1

General Knowledge

1 (137) G.K.—1
2
 3

INDIAN HISTORY
ANCIENT INDIA
Important Sites
INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION l The most important sites are Kot Diji in Sindh,
(2500-1750 BC) Kalibangan in Rajasthan, Ropar in the Punjab,
Banawali in Haryana, Lothal, Surkotada and
l The earliest excavations in the Indus valley were Dhaulavira, all the three in Gujarat.
done at Harappa in the West Punjab and l Mohenjodaro is the largest of all the Indus cities
Mohenjodaro in Sindh. Both places are now in and it is estimated to have spread over an area
Pakistan. of 200 hectares.
Indus Valley Civilisation : An Objective Study

Major Sites Excavators Year River Location Important Findings

1. Harappa D.R. Sahni 1921 Ravi West Punjab Granaries, Virgin Goddess,
(Pakistan) Cemetery, Stone symbol of Lingam
and Yoni
2. Mohenjodaro R.D. Banerjee 1922 Indus Sindh Great Bath, Great Granary, Assem
(Pakistan) bly Hall, Proto-Shiva, Brick Kilns,
Mesopotamian seals
3. Chanhudaro N.G. Mazumdar 1931 Indus Sindh Bronze toy cart, Ink-pot, Lipstick, City
(Pakistan) without a citadel
4. Kalibangan B.B. Lal & 1953 Ghaggar Ganganagar Decorated bricks, ploughed field
B.K. Thapar (Rajasthan) surface, Firealtars
5. Lothal S.R. Rao 1957 Bhogwa Ahmedabad Dockyard, Rice husk, Fire altars,
(Gujarat) Double burial
6. Banawali R.S. Bist 1973 Ghaggar Hissar Toy plough, Gridiron pattern of
(Haryana) Town planning.
7. Dholavira R.S. Bist 1990 Luni Kutchh A Large well & a bath,
(Gujarat) A stadium
8. Surkotada J. Joshi 1964 — Gujarat Bones of Horse, Pot burials
Salient Features of the Harappan Culture l Another remarkable feature was the underground
l The Harappan Civilization was primarily Urban. drainage system connecting all houses to the
l Mohenjodaro and Harappa were the planned street drains which were covered by stone slabs
cities. or bricks.
l The large-scale use of burnt bricks in almost all l The most important public place of Mohenjodaro
kinds of constructions are the important is the Great Bath measuring 39 feet length, 23
characteristics of the Harappan culture. feet breadth and 8 feet depth.
3
 4

l Agriculture was the most important occupation. and Sutlej along with the Indus and Saraswati.
In the fertile soils, farmers cultivated two crops l Historians view that the Aryans came from Central
a year. They were the first who had grown paddy. Asia. They entered India through the Khyber
l Wheat and barley were the main crops grown pass between 2000 B.C. and 1500 B.C. They
besides sesame, mustard and cotton. first settled in seven places in the Punjab region
l Animals like sheep, goats and buffalo were which they called Sapta Sindhu. Slowly, they
domesticated. The use of horse is not yet firmly moved towards the Gangetic Valley.
established. l The Aryan Civilisation was a rural civilisation.
l Bronze and copper vessels are the outstanding
Vedic Literature
examples of the Harappan metal craft.
l A large number of seals numbering more than l The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the root ‘vid’,
2000 have been discovered. which means to know and signifies ‘superior
knowledge’.
Social Life l The Vedic literature consists of the four Vedas –
l Jewelleries such as bangles, bracelets, fillets, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.
girdles, anklets, ear-rings and finger rings were l The Rig Veda is the earliest of the four Vedas
worn by women. These ornaments were made of divided into 10 mandalas and it consists of 1028
gold, silver, copper, bronze and semi precious hymns. The hymns were sung by Hotri in praise
stones. of various gods.
l Fishing was a regular occupation while hunting l The Yajur Veda consists of various details of
and bull fighting were other pastimes. rules to be observed at the time of sacrifice. Its
l Manufacture of terracotta (burnt clay) was a major hymns were recited by Adharvayus.
industry of the people. l The Sama Veda is set to tune for the purpose of
l Figures of animals such as sacred bull and dove chanting during sacrifice. It is called the book of
were discovered. The figures of Mother Goddesses chants and the origins of Indian music are traced
were used for religious purposes. in it. Its hymns were recited by Udgatri.
l Most of the inscriptions were engraved on seals. l The Atharva Veda contains details of rituals.
It is interesting to note that the Indus script has l Besides the Vedas, there are other sacred works
not yet been deciphered. like the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, the
l The Pipal tree was used as a religious symbol. Upanishads, and the epics Ramayana and
l The origin of the ‘Swastika’ symbol can be traced Mahabharata.
to the Harrapan Civilization.
Political Organisation
l The chief male deity was Pasupati, (proto-Siva)
represented in seals as sitting in a yogic posture l During this period, the kingdom was tribal in
with three faces and two horns. character. Each tribe formed a separate kingdom.
l The basic unit of political organisation was kula
or family.
THE VEDIC PERIOD
l The highest political unit was called jana or tribe.
RIG VEDIC AGE (1500 - 1000 B.C.) l There were several tribal kingdoms during the
l The Early Vedic period is known from the Rig Rig Vedic period such as Bharatas, Matsyas,
Veda. Yadus and Purus. The head of the kingdom was
l The Rig Veda refers to Saptasindhu or the land called as rajan or king.
of seven rivers. This includes the five rivers of l There were two popular bodies called the Sabha
the Punjab, namely, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Samiti. The former seems to have been a
 5

council of elders and the latter, a general assembly l The king performed various rituals and sacrifices
of the entire people. to strengthen his position. They include Rajasuya
(consecration ceremony), Asvamedha (horse
Social Life sacrifice) and Vajpeya (chariot race).
l Family was the basis of the society. l Kingship became hereditary.
l The head of the family was known as grihapathi. l Kings assumed titles like Ekrat, Samrat and
Sarvabhauma.
Economic Condition
l The Rig Vedic Aryans were pastoral people and Economic Condition
their main occupation was cattle rearing. Their l Iron was used extensively in this period and this
wealth was estimated in terms of their cattle. enabled the people to clear forests and to bring
l Carpentry was another important profession. more land under cultivation. Agriculture became
the chief occupation.
RELIGION
l Taxes like Bali, Sulk and Bhaga were collected
l The important Rig Vedic gods were Prithvi from the people.
(Earth), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind), Varuna (Rain) l Wealth was calculated in terms of cows.
and Indra (Thunder).
l Indra was the most popular among them during Social Life
the early Vedic period. l The four divisions of society (Brahmins,
l There were also female gods like Aditi and Ushas. Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras) or the Varna
There were no temples and no idol worship during system was thoroughly established during the
the early Vedic period. Later Vedic period.
The Ashrama system was formed to attain 4
Rigvedic Rivers l

purusharthas. They were Dharma, Artha, Kama

River Name in Rigveda and Moksha.
Indus Sindhu
Religion
Jhelum Vitasta
Chenab Asikni l Gods of the Early Vedic period like Indra and
Ravi Parushini
Agni lost their importance. Prajapathi (the
creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the
Beas Vipasa
destroyer) became prominent during the Later
Sutlej Sutudri
Vedic period.
Gomati Gomal
Saraswati Sarasvati
Ghaggar Prishadavati
JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
LATER VEDIC PERIOD (1000–600 B.C.) JAINISM
l Jainism originated in the 6th century B.C. It
l This age is also called as the Epic Age because
rejected Vedic religion and avoided its rituals.
the two great epics the Ramayana and
Mahabharata were written during this period. l Founded by Rishabha Deva. Rishabha Deva was
succeeded by 23 Thirthankaras (prophets).
l The Sama, Yajur, Atharva Vedas, Brahmanas,
Mahavira was the 24th Thirthankara.
Aranyakas, Upanishads and the two epics are the
sources of information for this period. Vardhamana Mahavira (540-468 B.C.)
l Vardhamana was born in a village called
Political Organisation Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar.
l Larger kingdoms were formed during the later l His father was Siddhartha. He was the head of a
Vedic period. famous Kshatriya clan.
 6

l His mother was Trisala. She was a princess of the l The second Jain Council was held at Vallabhi in
Lichchhavi clan. She was the sister of the ruler 5th century A.D. The final compilation of Jain
of Vaishali. literature called Twelve Angas was completed in
l Vardhamana was married to Yasoda, a princess. this council.
They had a daughter. BUDDHISM
l At the age of 30, he left his home and family. He
became an ascetic (monk). He wandered from Gautama Buddha (563-483 B.C.)
place-to-place in search of truth for 12 years. l Buddha’s original name was Siddhartha.
l In the 13th year of his penance, he attained the l Siddhartha was born in the Lumbini Garden near
highest spiritual knowledge called Kevalya or Kapilavastu in Nepal. His father was Suddhodana.
Jnana. Thereafter, he was called Mahavira and He was a Sakya chief of Kapilavastu. His mother,
Jina. His followers were called Jains and his Mayadevi, died when Siddhartha was only seven
religion Jainism. days old. He was brought up by his step mother
l He died at the age of 72 in 468 B.C. at a place Mahaprajapati Gauthami.
called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar. l At the age of sixteen Siddhartha, married
Teachings of Jainism Yasodhara and gave birth to a son, Rahul.
The sight of an old man, a diseased man, a corpse
The three principles of Jainism, also known as
l
l
and an ascetic turned him away from worldly
Triratnas (three gems), are:
life. He left home at the age of twenty-nine in
1. right faith.
search of Truth.
2. right knowledge.
3. right conduct. l He wandered for seven years and at last, he sat
l Mahavira preached his disciples to follow the under a bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar and
five principles. They are: did intense penance, after which he got
1. Ahimsa—not to injure any living beings Enlightenment (Nirvana) at the age of thirty-
2. Satya—to speak the truth five. Since then, he became known as the Buddha
3. Asteya—not to steal or ‘the Enlightened One’.
4. Tyag—not to own property l Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath near
5. Brahmacharia—to lead a virtuous life. Banaras (now Varanasi).
l He died at the age of 80 in 483 B.C. at Kushinagar
Spread of Jainism in Uttar Pradesh.
l Mahavira preached his religion in Prakrit
language which was the language of the masses. Teachings of Buddha
l Chandragupta Maurya, Kharavela of Kalinga and l The Four Noble Truths of Buddha are:
the royal dynasties of south India such as the 1. The world is full of suffering.
Gangas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the 2. The cause of suffering is desire.
Rashtrakutas patronised Jainism. 3. If desires are get rid off, suffering can be
l Jainism was divided into two sects after Vallabhi removed.
Council, namely Svetambaras (wearing white 4. This can be done by following the Eightfold
dresses) under Sthulbhadra and Digambaras Path.
(naked) under Bhadrabahu. l The Eightfold Path consists of:
l The first Jain Council was convened at 1. Right Thought.
Pataliputra by Sthulabahu, the leader of the
Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd century 2. Right Belief.
B.C. 3. Right Speech.
 7

4. Right Action. l Buddhist scriptures in Pali are commonly referred

5. Right Living. to as Tripitakas, i.e., ‘Three Baskets’.
6. Right Efforts. l Vinaya Pitaka: Rules of discipline in Buddhist
7. Right Knowledge. monasteries.
8. Right Meditation. l Sutta Pitaka: Largest, contains collection of
Buddha’s sermons.
Buddhist Literature l Abidhamma Pitaka: Explanation of the
l In Pali language. philosophical principles of the Buddhist religion.

Main Buddhist Councils

Buddhist Council Time Place Chairman Patron
First 483 BC Rajagriha Mahakashyapa Ajatasatru
Second 383 BC Vaishali Sabakamuni Kalashoka
Third 250 BC Patliputra Moggaliputta Tissa Ashoka
Fourth AD 72 Kundalvana Vasumitra, Ashwaghosa Kanishka

The Mahajanapadas Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.

l During his rule, Darius I, the Achaemenian
Mahajanapadas Capital
emperor, conquered the Indus Valley area.
1. Kashi Varanasi
l Ajatasatru imprisoned his father Bimbisara.
2. Kosala Shravasti
l The first Buddhist Council was convened by
3. Anga Champanagri
Ajatasatru at Rajgir.
4. Magadh Girivraj or Rajgriha
l The immediate successor of Ajatasatru was
5. Vajji Vaishali
Udayin.
6. Malla Kushinagar and Pavapuri
l Udayin laid the foundation of the new capital at
7. Chedi Shuktimati
Pataliputra situated at the confluence of the two
8. Vatsa Kaushambi
rivers, the Ganges and the Sone.
9. Kuru Hastinapur,
Indraprastha l Shishunaga was the founder of Shishunaga
and Isukara dynasty.
10. Panchal Ahichhatra and Kampilya l After Shishunaga, the mighty empire began to
11. Matsya Viratnagar collapse. His successor was Kakavarman or
12. Surasen Mathura Kalasoka. During his reign, the second Buddhist
13. Asmaka Paudanya Council was held at Vaishali.
14. Avanti Ujjaini l Kalasoka was killed by the founder of the Nanda
15. Gandhara Taxila dynasty.
16. Kamboj Rajpur (Hatak) NANDAS
l The fame of Magadha scaled new heights under
DYNASTIES OF ANCIENT INDIA the Nanda dynasty.
l Mahapadmananda was the founder of Nanda rule
HARYANKA DYNASTY
in Magadha.
l Bimbisara was the founder of Haryanka Dynasty. l The last Nanda ruler was Dhana Nanda. Alexander
l He was a contemporary of both Vardhamana invaded India during his rule.
 8

Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of

MAURYAN EMPIRE
l

Brahmanism. He performed two asvamedha

CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (322–298 B.C.) sacrifices.
l Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the l After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra
Mauryan Empire. He overthrew Nanda dynasty became the ruler.
with the help of Chanakya. l Agnimitra was a great conqueror. He was also the
l Chandragupta defeated Seleukos Nikator, the hero of the play Malavikagnimitram written by
Greek general of Alexander, in a battle in 305 Kalidasa.
B.C.
KANVA
l Seleukos sent Megasthenes as Greek Ambassador
l The last Sunga ruler was Devabhuti, who was
to the Court of Chandragupta. Megasthenes wrote
murdered by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, the
Indica.
founder of the Kanva dynasty.
l Chandragupta was a follower of Jainism.
l The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years. After the
l He came to Sravana Belgola, near Mysore with fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magadha was
a Jain monk called Bhadrabahu. The hill in which a blank until the establishment of the Gupta
he lived until his death is called Chandragiri.
dynasty.
l Chanakya served as prime minister during the
reigns of Chandragupta and Bindusara. SATAVAHANAS
l The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was
BINDUSARA (298–273 B.C.)
Simuka.
l Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son
l The greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty was
Bindusara.
Gautamiputra Satakarni.
l Bindusara was called by the Greeks as
l The greatest port of the Satavahanas was Kalyani
“Amitraghatha” meaning, slayer of enemies.
on the west Deccan. Gandakasela and Ganjam on
ASHOKA (273–232 B.C.) the east coast were the other important seaports.
l Ashoka was the most famous ruler of the Mauryan l The fine painting at Amaravathi and
dynasty. Nagarjunakonda caves belong to this period.
l The most important event of Ashoka’s reign was
his victorious war with Kalinga in 261 B.C. SANGAM AGE
l Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at (300 B.C. TO A.D. 300)
Pataliputra around 250 B.C. in order to strengthen
the Sangha. It was presided over by Moggaliputta l The Sangam Age constitutes an important chapter
Tissa. in the history of South India.
l Ashoka’s edicts and inscriptions were deciphered l According to Tamil legends, there existed three
by James Prinsep in 1837. Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient
l The last Mauryan king, Brahadratha was killed Tamil Nadu popularly called Muchchangam.
by his minister Pushyamitra Sunga. It put an end These Sangams flourished under the royal
to the Mauryan Empire. patronage of the Pandyas.
l The first Sangam, held at then Madurai, chaired
SUNGAS by Agastya.
l The founder of the Sunga dynasty was l The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram,
Pushyamitra Sunga, who was the commander-in- chaired by Tolkappiyar.
chief under the Mauryas. l The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by
l He ascended the throne of Magadha in 185 B.C. Mudathirumaran.
 9 (137) G.K.—2

Political History CHANDRAGUPTA II (380-414 A.D.)

l The Tamil country was ruled by three dynasties l Samudragupta was succeeded by his son
namely the Chera, Chola and Pandyas during the Chandragupta II Vikramaditya.
Sangam Age. l The greatest of the military achievements of
Chandragupta II was his war against the Saka
CHERAS satraps of western India.
l The Cheras ruled over parts of modern Kerala. l The famous Chinese pilgrim, Fahien visited India
Their capital was Vanji and their important (A.D. 399 - A.D. 414) during the reign of
seaports were Tondi and Musiris. Chandragupta II.
l The greatest Chera King was Senguttuvan.
SUCCESSORS OF CHANDRAGUPTA II
CHOLAS l Kumaragupta (415-455) was the son and
l The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period successor of Chandragupta II. His reign was
extended from modern Tiruchi district to southern marked by general peace and prosperity.
Andhra Pradesh. l Kumaragupta was the founder of the Nalanda
l Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and University.
then shifted to Puhar. Kaveripattinam served as l Kumaragupta was followed by Skandagupta who
their port. ruled from A.D. 456 to A.D. 468.
l After Skandagupta’s death, many of his successors
GUPTA PERIOD like Purugupta, Narasimhagupta, Buddhagupta
l The Gupta period is considered as the Golden and Baladitya could not save the Gupta empire
from the Huns. Ultimately, the Gupta power
Age in the history of India because this period
totally disappeared due to the Hun invasions
witnessed all round developments in Religion,
and later by the rise of Yasodharman in Malwa.
Literature, Science, Art and Architecture.

CHANDRAGUPTA I (320-334 A.D.) PUSHYABHUTI DYNASTY

l In the beginning of the 4th Century A.D., Sri (600 - 647 A.D.)
Gupta established a small Kingdom at Pataliputra. l The greatest king was Harshavardhana, son of
He is considered as the founder of the Gupta Prabhakar Vardhana of Thaneshwar. He shifted
dynasty. the capital to Kannauj.
l The first notable ruler of the Gupta dynasty was l Hieun Tsang visited during his reign.
Chandragupta I. He assumed the title l He established a large monastery at Nalanda.
Maharajadhiraja. The Meherauli Iron Pillar Banabhata adorned his court, wrote Harshacharita
inscription mentions his extensive conquests. and Kadambari. Harsha himself wrote three
l Chandragupta I is considered to be the founder plays–Priyadarshika, Ratnawali and Nagananda.
of the Gupta era which starts with his accession
in A.D. 320. PALLAVAS
l The Pallavas established their kingdom in
SAMUDRAGUPTA (335-380 A.D.) Tondaimandalam by Simhavishnu with its capital
l Samudragupta was the greatest of the rulers of at Kanchipuram.
the Gupta dynasty. The Allahabad Pillar l Other great Pallava rulers were Mahendravarman
inscription provides a detailed account of his I, Narasimhavarman I, and Narasimhavarman II.
reign. l The Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram is the
l Because of his military achievements, greatest architectural masterpiece of the Pallava
Samudragupta was hailed as ‘Indian Napoleon’. art.
 10

CHALUKYAS (543-755 A.D.) found at Ellora and Elephanta.

l Pulakesin I was the founder of the Chalukya
CHOLAS
dynasty. He established a small kingdom with
Vatapi or Badami as its capital. l Cholas became prominent in the ninth century
and established an empire comprising the major
l The structural temples of the Chalukyas exist at
portion of South India. Their capital was Tanjore.
Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal (Virupaksha
temple). Cave temple architecture was also famous l The founder of the Chola kingdom was
under the Chalukyas. Their cave temples are Vijayalaya.
found in Ajanta, Ellora and Nasik. l Rajaraja Chola built the famous Brihadeeswara
temple at Tanjore.
RASHTRAKUTAS (755-975 A.D.) l Dancing Figure of Shiva (Nataraja) belong to
l The art and architecture of the Rashtrakutas were Chola period.

MEDIEVAL INDIA
dynasty. Mamluk was the Quranic term for slave.
ARAB CONQUEST OF SIND
Qutb-ud-din Aibak
l In 712 A.D., Muhammad bin Quasim invaded
Sind. Quasim defeated Dahir, the ruler of Sind l Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a slave of Muhammad
and killed him in a well-contested battle. Ghori, who made him the Governor of his Indian
possessions.
Mahmud of Ghazni
l After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak declared
l In 1024, Mahmud marched from Multan across his independence. He assumed the title Sultan
Rajaputana, defeated the Solanki King and made Lahore his capital.
Bhimadeva I, plundered Anhilwada and sacked the l Muslim writers call Aibak Lakh Baksh or giver
famous temple of Somanatha. This was his last of lakhs because he gave liberal donations to
campaign in India. Mahmud died in 1030 A.D.
them.
l Mahmud patronized art and literature. Firdausi
l He built the famous Quwat-Ul-Islam mosque at
was the poet-laureate in the court of Mahmud.
Delhi. He began the construction of the famous
Muhammad Ghori Qutb Minar at Delhi but did not live long to
l Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Ghori in the first complete it. It was later completed by Iltutmish.
battle of Tarain near Delhi in 1191 A.D. Iltutmish (1210-1236 A.D.)
In the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192,
Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe and hence
l
l
Muhammad Ghori thoroughly routed the army
his dynasty was named as Ilbari dynasty.
of Prithiviraj, who was captured and killed.
l He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.
l After his brilliant victory over Prithviraj at Tarain,
Muhammad Ghori returned to Ghazni leaving l He organised the Iqta system and introduced
behind his favourite general Qutb-ud-din Aibak reforms in civil administration and army.
to make further conquests in India. Raziya (1236-1240 A.D.)
SULTANATE PERIOD l She appointed an Abyssinian slave Yakuth as
Master of the Royal Horses.
SLAVE DYNASTY (1206-1290)
l In 1240, Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda
l The Slave dynasty was also called Mamluk revolted against her. She went in personally to
 11

suppress the revolt but Altunia killed Yakuth of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq in A.D. 1351.
and took Raziya prisoner. l He was the first Sultan to impose irrigation tax.
l Bahram Shah, son of Iltutmish killed her. l He had built new towns of Firozabad, Jaunpur,
Hissar and Firozpur.
Balban (1266-1286 A.D.)
l Timur—Mongol leader of Central Asia, ordered
l Balban introduced rigorous court discipline and general massacre in Delhi (AD 1398) at the time
new customs such as prostration and kissing the of Nasiruddin Mahmud (later Tughlaq king).
Sultan’s feet to prove his superiority over the
nobles. SAYYID DYNASTY
l He also introduced the Persian festival of Nauroz l Before his departure from India, Timur appointed
to impress the nobles and people with his wealth Khizr Khan as governor of Multan. He captured
and power. Delhi and founded the Sayyid dynasty in 1414.
l He established a separate military department - l Mubarak Shah, Mohammed Shah and Alam Shah
diwan-i-arz – and reorganized the army. were some of the other important noteworthy
rulers of Sayyid Dynasty.
KHILJI DYNASTY (1290-1320 A.D.)
l The founder of the Khilji dynasty was Jalaluddin LODHI DYNASTY
Khilji. l The Lodhis were Afghans.
l Ala-ud-din Khilji was the greatest ruler of the l Bahlol Lodhi was the first Afghan ruler while his
Khilji Dynasty. predecessors were all Turks. He died in 1489 and
l He was the first Muslim ruler to extend his empire was succeeded by his son, Sikandar Lodhi.
right upto Rameshwaram in the South. l In 1504, Sikandar Lodhi founded the city of
l The Sultan had built a new city called Siri near Agra and transferred his capital from Delhi to
Delhi. Agra.
l Amir Khusrau the great Persian poet, patronised l Babar marched against Delhi and defeated and
by Balban, continued to live in Ala-ud-din killed Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat
Khilji’s court also. (1526).
l He introduced the system of dagh (branding of
horses) and prepared huliya (descriptive list of BAHMANI AND VIJAYANAGAR
soldiers). KINGDOMS
l Ala-ud-din Khilji maintained a large permanent l The break up of the Delhi Sultanate provided an
standing army and paid them in cash from the opportunity for the rise of a number of kingdoms
royal treasury. in the Deccan.
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY l After the decline of the Tughlaqs, there arose
l Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was the founder of the two important kingdoms in the Deccan. They
Tughlaq dynasty. were the Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms.
l To have the capital at the centre of the empire VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE
and safe from the Mongol raids, Tughlaq chose l The Vijayanagar Kingdom was set up in A.D.
Devagiri as his new capital in A.D. 1327. The 1336. Its aim was to check the spread of Muslim
Sultan renamed the new capital Daulatabad. power and protect Hindu Dharma in South India.
l In 1329-30, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq introduced l Four dynasties – Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and
a token currency. Aravidu – ruled Vijayanagar from A.D. 1336 to
l Firoz Shah Tughlaq became Sultan after the death 1672.
 12

l Vijayanagar was founded in 1336 by Harihara l On 21st April, 1526 the first Battle of Panipat
and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty. took place between Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi,
l The Moroccan traveller, Ibn Batuta, Venetian who was killed in the battle.
traveller Nicolo de Conti, Persian traveller Abdur l Babar was the first one to use guns or artillery in
Razzak and the Portuguese traveller Domingo a battle on the Indian soil.
Paes were among them who left valuable accounts l Babar defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar in the
on the socio-economic conditions of the battle of Kanwah in A.D. 1527.
Vijayanagar Empire. l Babar was a soldier-scholar and wrote his own
l The Hampi ruins and other monuments of autobiography called Babar Nama in Turkish
Vijayanagar provide information on the cultural language.
contributions of the Vijayanagar rulers.
HUMAYUN (1530-1556 AD)
KRISHNA DEVA RAYA (1509-1530) l Sher Shah defeated Humayun at Chausa in A.D.
l The Tuluva dynasty was founded by Vira 1539 and again at Kannauj in A.D. 1540.
Narasimha. l After losing his kingdom, Humayun became an
l The greatest of the Vijayanagar rulers, Krishna exile for the next fifteen years.
Deva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty. l In 1555, Humayun defeated the Afghans and
l Krishna Deva Raya himself authored a Telugu recovered the Mughal throne. After six months,
work, Amukthamalyadha and Sanskrit works, he died in 1556 due to his fall from the staircase
Jambavati Kalyanam and Ushaparinayam. of his library.
l He built the famous Vittalaswamy and Hazara l Gulbadan Begum, Humayun’s half-sister wrote
Ramaswamy temples at Vijayanagar. Humayun-nama.
l Krishna Deva Raya renovated Virupaksha temple
in A.D. 1510. SHER SHAH SURI
l After his death the enemies of Vijayanagar joined l The founder of the Sur dynasty was Sher Shah,
together and defeated the Vijayanagar ruler in whose original name was Farid.
the battle of Talaikota. l Sher Shah became the ruler of Delhi in 1540.
l Sher Shah organized a brilliant administrative
BAHMANI KINGDOM system. The central government consisted of
l The founder of the Bahmani kingdom was several departments.
Alauddin Bahman Shah also known as Hasan l He built a new city on the banks of the river
Gangu in 1347. Its capital was Gulbarga. Yamuna near Delhi. Now the old fort called
l Ahmad Wali Shah shifted the capital from Purana Quila and its mosque is alone surviving.
Gulbarga to Bidar. l He built a Mausoleum at Sasaram, which is
l Gol Gumbaj was built by Muhammad Adil Shah; considered as one of the master pieces of Indian
it is famous for the so called ‘Whispering Gallery’. architecture.
l Quli Qutub Shah built the famous Golcunda
Fort. AKBAR (1556-1605 AD)
l When Akbar ascended the throne in A.D. 1556
MUGHAL EMPIRE he was only 14 years old. His guardian Bairam
(1526-1707 AD) Khan served him as a faithful minister and tutor.
l Bairam Khan, along with Akbar met Hemu in the
BABAR (1526-1530 AD) second Battle of Panipat in 1556. Hemu was
l Babar was the founder of the Mughal Empire in initially successful, but lost his consciousness
India. after an arrow hit him. Akbar killed him.
 13

l In the Battle of Haldighati, Rana Pratap Singh LATER MUGHALS / FALL OF THE MUGHALS
was severely defeated by the Mughal army led
by Man Singh in 1576. Bahadur Shah (1707-1712)
l Akbar abolished the pilgrim tax and in 1562, he l Assumed the title of Shah Alam I.
abolished Jaziya.
Jahandar Shah (1712-1713)
l Akbar evolved a new faith called Din-i-Illahi or
Divine Faith. l First puppet Mughal emperor. He abolished
jaziya.
JAHANGIR (1605-1627 AD)
Farrukhsiyar (1713-1719)
l When Akbar died, Prince Salim succeeded with
the title Jahangir (Conqueror of World) in 1605. Mohammad Shah (1719-1748)
l Jahangir’s eldest son, Khusrau, rebelled against
l Nadir Shah (of Iran) defeated him in the Battle
him. He was arrested and put into prison. Guru
of Karnal (1739) and took away Peacock throne
Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru was executed by
Jahangir. and Kohinoor diamond.
l In 1611, Jahangir married Mehrunnisa who was Ahmad Shah (1748-1754)
known as Nurjahan (Light of World).
l Jahangir died in A.D. 1627. Alamgir II (1754-1759),

SHAHJAHAN (1628-1658 AD) Shah Alam II (1759-1806)

l The reign of Shahjahan is generally considered
Akbar II (1806-1837)
as the Golden Age of the Mughal period.
l Shahjahan is called as the Prince of Builders. He l He gave Ram Mohan Roy the title ‘Raja’. He
had built the Jama Masjid and Red Fort in Delhi sent Raja Ram Mohan Roy to London to seek a
and Taj Mahal in Agra. raise in his allowance.
l Fine arts like painting, music and literature Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857)
reached high level of development during
Shahjahan’s time. l He was confined by the British to the Red Fort.
During the revolt of 1857, he was proclaimed the
AURANGAZEB (1658-1707 AD) Emperor by the rebels. He was deported to
l Aurangazeb was the last great Mughal ruler. He Rangoon after that.
ascended the throne after killing his three brothers Literature of Mughal Period
Dara, Shuja and Murad in a fratricidal war.
Author Work
l Aurangazeb defeated Sikandar Shah of Bijapur
and annexed his kingdom. Babar Tuzuk-i-Babari
Abul Fazal Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnamah
l Aurangazeb was against the Sikhs and he
executed the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. Jahangir Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
Hamid Padshahnama
l He was called Darvesh or a Zinda Pir. He forbade
Sati. Conquered Bijapur (AD 1686) and Darashikoh Majm-ul-Bahrain
Golconda (AD 1687) and reimposed Jaziya and Mirza Md Qasim Alamgirnama
Pilgrim tax in AD 1679.
l He built Biwi ka Makbara on the tomb of his THE MARATHAS
queen Rabaud-Durani at Aurangabad; Moti
Masjid within Red Fort, Delhi; and the Jami or SHIVAJI (1627-1680 AD)
Badshahi Mosque at Lahore. l Shivaji was born at Shivner in 1627. His father
l Aurangazeb died in A.D. 1707. was Shahji Bhonsle and mother Jija Bai.
 14

l His religious teacher was Samarth Ramdas and THE SIKH

guardian was Dadaji Kondadev. l Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism, the
l In 1674, Shivaji crowned himself at Raigarh and religion that draws its elements from both
assumed the title Chatrapathi. Hinduism and Islam.
l Ashtapradhan (eight ministers) helped in l Name of the ten Sikh Gurus and their works are
administration. These were Peshwas, Sar-i-Naubat given below:
(Military), Mazumdar or Amatya (Accounts); 1. Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539AD): The
Waqenavis (Intelligence); Surnavis (Corres- founder of Sikhism.
pondence); Dabir or Sumanta (Ceremonies); 2. Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552AD): Developed
Nyayadhish (Justice); and Panditrao (Charity). Gurmukhi.
l Successors of Shivaji were Shambhaji, Rajaram 3. Guru Amar Das (1479-1574AD): Struggled
and Shahu (fought at Battle of Khed in AD 1708). against Sati system and Purdah system.
THE PESHWAS 4. Guru Ram Das (1534-1581AD): Founded
l Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. He began Amritsar, the holy city of Sikhism.
his career as a small revenue official and became 5. Guru Arjun Dev (1563-1606AD): He built
Peshwa in 1713. the Swarn Mandir (Golden Temple).
l Baji Rao I was the eldest son of Balaji 6. Guru Hargobind (1595-1644 AD):
Vishwanath. He was considered as the “greatest Established Akal Takht.
exponent of guerilla tactics after Shivaji”. 7. Guru Har Rai (1630-1661 AD)
l It was during reign of Balaji Baji Rao 8. Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664 AD)
(Nanasaheb) when the Marathas lost the Third 9. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675 AD)
Battle of Panipat. 10. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708 AD):
l Baji Rao II ( last Peshwa) was the first Maratha Founded the Khalsa and Sikh baptism,
to have fled from the British attacks instead of composed many poems, and nominated the
fighting with them. Baji Rao II surrendered to Sir Sikh sacred text as the final and enduring
John Malcom. Guru.

MODERN INDIA
The real founder of Portuguese power in India
THE ADVENT OF THE EUROPEANS l

was Alfonso de Albuquerque. He captured Goa

from the rulers of Bijapur in 1510. It was made
THE PORTUGUESE
their headquarters.
l Vasco-da-Gama, a Portuguese explorer, sailed
through the route of Cape of Good Hope and reached THE DUTCH
near Calicut on 20th May 1498 A.D. during the l The United East India Company of the
reign of King Zamorin (Hindu King of Calicut).
Netherlands founded a factory at Masulipatnam
l Vasco-da-Gama founded a factory at Cannanore in 1605. They built their first fort on the main
on his second visit to India in 1501. In due land of India at Pulicut in 1609, near Madras
course, Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore became
(Chennai). They captured Nagapattinam from the
the Portuguese trading centres.
Portuguese.
l Francisco Almeida came to India in 1505. He
was the first Governor of Portuguese possessions l They made Agra, Surat, Masulipatnam and
in India. Chinsura in Bengal as their trading centres.
 15

THE DANES GOVERNOR-GENERALS OF BENGAL

l The Danish East India Company was established
Warren Hastings (1772-85 AD)
in 1616 in Denmark.
l They came to South India and founded a factory l In 1772, the Company appointed Warren Hastings
at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) in 1620. They as the Governor of Fort William.
also made settlements at Serampore near Calcutta l The Dual System introduced by Robert Clive
(Kolkata). was abolished by Warren Hastings.
THE ENGLISH l Warren Hastings was known for his expansionist
policy. His administration witnessed the Rohilla
l The English East India Company was formed in
War, the First Anglo-Maratha War and the Second
1599 under a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
in 1600. Anglo-Mysore War.
l The East India Company sent Sir William l Pitt’s India Act (1784) was passed.
Hawkins to the court of the Mughal Emperor Lord Cornwallis (1786-93 AD)
Jahangir in 1609 to obtain permission to erect a
factory at Surat. l Cornwallis inaugurated the policy of making
l In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe, another British appointments mainly on the basis of merit
merchant, came to Jahangir’s court. He stayed for thereby laying the foundation of the Indian Civil
three years and succeeded in getting permission Service.
to set up their trading centres at Agra, Surat, l Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Revenue
Ahmedabad and Broach. Settlement.
l In 1690, the British got permission from l Tipu Sultan signed the Treaty of Srirangapatnam
Aurangazeb to build a factory on the site of in 1792 with the British.
Calcutta. In 1696 a fort was built at that place.
It was called Fort William. Sir John Shore (1793-98 AD)
l Played an important role in the introduction of
THE FRENCH
Permanent Settlement.
l The French East India Company was established
in 1664 under the inspiring and energetic l Battle of Kharda between the Nizams and the
leadership of Colbert, the economic adviser of Marathas (1795).
the French King Louis XIV. Wellesley (1798-1805)
l In 1667, the first French factory was established
at Surat by Francis Caron who was nominated as l Wellesley came to India with a determination to
Director-General. launch a forward policy that he adopted to
l French were defeated by English in the Battle of achieve his object is known as the ‘Subsidiary
Wandiwash (1760). Alliance’.
l The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War started in 1799.
EAST INDIA COMPANY The war was short and decisive. Tipu fought till
his capital Srirangapatnam was captured and he
l After the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle himself was shot dead.
of Buxar in 1764, the East India Company became
a political power. l Peshwa Baji Rao II signed the Treaty of Bassein
with the British in 1802. It was a subsidiary
l India was under the East India Company’s rule
treaty and the Peshwa was recognized as the
till 1858 when it came under the direct
administration of the British Crown. head of the Maratha kingdom.
l Robert Clive was the first Governor of Fort l The Treaty of Deogaon(1803) was signed between
William under the Company’s rule. Bhonsle and Wellesley.
 16

Lord Minto (1807-1813) Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856)

l Lord Minto concluded the Treaty of Amritsar l The Doctrine of Lapse was applied by Dalhousie.
with Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1809. l The first railway line connecting Bombay with
l The Charter Act of 1813 was passed during this Thane was opened in 1853.
period.
VICEROYS OF INDIA
Lord Hastings (1813-1823)
Lord Canning (1856-62 AD)
l Anglo Nepal War (1814-1816) and Treaty of
l Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India
Sugauli (1816).
in 1858.
l Third Maratha War (1817-18), dissolution of
l Revolt of 1857, Mutiny took place. Indian Penal
Maratha confederacy and creation of Bombay
Code 1860 was passed.
Presidency.
l He encouraged the freedom of the Press and Lord Elgin (1862 AD)
abolished the censorship introduced in 1799. l Wahabi Movement.
GOVERNOR-GENERALS OF INDIA Lord John Lawrence (1864-69 AD)
Lord William Bentinck (1828-1835) l Established the High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay
l Charter Act of 1833 was passed and he was made and Madras in 1865.
the first Governor-General of India. Before him, l Telegraphic communication was opened with
the designation was Governor-General of Bengal. Europe. Created the Indian Forest Department.
l The social reforms of William Bentinck made his Lord Northbrooke (1872-76 AD)
name immortal in the history of British India.
l Kuka Rebellion in Punjab, Famine in Bihar.
These include the abolition of Sati, the
suppression of Thugs and the prevention of Lord Lytton (1876-80)
female infanticide. l In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed.
l The Government Resolution in 1835 made This Act empowered a Magistrate to secure an
English the official and literary language of India. undertaking from the editor, publisher and printer
of a vernacular newspaper that nothing would be
Lord Metcalfe (1835-36 AD)
published against the English Government. This
l Known as liberator of press in India. Act crushed the freedom of the Indian press.
Lord Auckland (1836-42 AD) l In 1878, the Arms Act was passed. This Act
prevented the Indians to keep arms without
l First Afghan War (1838-42), a disaster for the
appropriate license.
English.
l Lord Lytton also held a Darbar at Delhi in 1877
Lord Ellenborough (1842-44 AD) in which Queen Victoria was declared as the
l Brought an end to Afghan war. War with Gwalior Empress of India. This extravagant Darbar cost
(1843), Annexation of Sind by Charles Napier millions of ruppes.
(1843). l In 1878, the Statutory Civil Service was
established exclusively for Indians.
Lord Hardinge (1844-48 AD)
Lord Ripon (1880-84 AD)
l First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46) and Treaty of
Lahore (1846). Gave preference to English l Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act
educated persons in employment. and earned much popularity among Indians.
 17 (137) G.K.—3

l Ripon appointed a Commission in 1882 under Sabarmati Ashram (1916), Champaran

the chairmanship of Sir William Hunter. Satyagraha, Satyagraha at Ahmedabad (1981),
l The Commission came to be known as the Hunter Kheda Satyagraha (1918).
Commission. The Commission recommended for l Rowlatt Act (March, 1919) and the Jallianwala
the expansion and improvement of the Bagh Massacre (13th April, 1919).
elementary education of the masses. l Khilafat Committee was formed and Khilafat
l Ripon was founder of local self-government in Movement started (1919-20).
modern India. l Non-Cooperation Movement started (1920-22).
Lord Dufferin (1884-88 AD) Lord Reading (1921-26)
l Third Burmese War (1885-86 AD). Establishment l Moplah Rebellion (1921) took place. Kakori
of the Indian National Congress in 1885. Train Robbery on 1st August, 1925. Communal
Lord Lansdowne (1888-94 AD) Riots of 1923-25 in Multan, Amritsar, Delhi etc.

l Factory Act of 1891 granted weekly holiday and Lord Irwin (1926-31 AD)
stipulated working hours for women and children. l Lahore Session of Congress and Poorna Swaraj
Lord Elgin II (1894-99 AD) Declaration (1929).
l Simon Commission visited India in 1927.
l Southern uprisings of 1899. Great famine of
Dandi March (12th March, 1930). Civil
1896-1897 and Lyall Commission on famine was
l

Disobedience Movement (1930).

established.
l First Round Table Conference was held in
Lord Curzon (1899-1905 AD) England in 1930. Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
l Curzon instituted in 1902, a Universities Lord Willingdon (1931-36 AD)
Commission to go into the entire question of
university education in the country. l Second Round Table Conference in London in
l On the basis of the findings and recommendations 1931 and third in 1932.
of the Commission, Curzon brought in the Indian Lord Linlithgow (1936-43 AD)
Universities Act of 1904, which brought all the
l Congress Ministries resignation celebrated as
universities in India under the control of the
‘Deliverance Day’ by the Muslim League (1939),
government.
the Lahore Resolution (23rd March, 1940) of
Lord Minto (1905-10 AD) the Muslim League demanding separate state
l Swadeshi Movement (1905-08); foundation of for the Muslims. (It was at this session that
Muslim League (1906); Surat Session and split Jinnah propounded his Two-Nation Theory).
in the Congress (1907). Morley-Minto Reforms Outbreak of World War II in 1939. Cripps Mission
(1909). in 1942. Quit India Movement (8th August,
1942).
Lord Hardinge (1910-16 AD)
Lord Wavell (1943-47 AD)
l Capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi (1911);
Delhi Durbar; Partition of Bengal was cancelled. l Cabinet Mission Plan (16th May, 1946).
The Hindu Mahasabha was founded in 1915 by l First meeting of the Constituent Assembly was
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. held on 9th December, 1946.
l Arranged the Shimla Conference on 25th June,
Lord Chelmsford (1916-21 AD)
1945 with Indian National Congress and Muslim
l Gandhi returned to India (1915) and founded the League but failed.
 18 (137) G.K.—3-II

Lord Mountbatten (March to Aug, 1947) Swadeshi Movement (1905)

l Last viceroy of British India and the first l The Swadeshi Movement involved programmes
Governor-General of free India. like the boycott of government service, courts,
l Partition of India decided by the 3rd June Plan schools and colleges and of foreign goods. It was
or Mountbatten Plan. both a political and economic movement.
l Lal, Bal, Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh played an
NATIONAL MOVEMENT important role.
(1885-1947) Muslim League (1906)
INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (1885) l In December 1906, Muslim delegates from all
l Allan Octavian Hume, a retired civil servant in over India met at Dacca for the Muslim
the British Government took the initiative to Educational Conference.
form an all-India organization. Thus, the Indian l Taking advantage of this occasion, Nawab
National Congress was founded and its first Salimullah of Dacca proposed the setting up of
session was held at Bombay in 1885. W.C. an organisation to look after the Muslim interests.
Banerjee was its first president. It was attended The proposal was accepted.
by 72 delegates from all over India. l The All-India Muslim League was finally set up
l The second session was held in Calcutta in 1886 on December 30, 1906.
and the third in Madras in 1887.
Minto Morley Reforms (1909)
l Between 1885 and 1905, the Congress leaders
were moderates. The Moderates had faith in the l Minto, the Viceroy and Morley, the Secretary of
State for India jointly proposed reforms to the
British justice and goodwill. They were called
Indian Councils. An Act, called the Indian
moderates because they adopted peaceful and
Councils Act or the Minto-Morley Reforms Act
constitutional means to achieve their demands.
was passed in 1909.
l In 1905, Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the
l A separate communal electorate was introduced
Servants of India Society to train Indians to
for the Muslims.
dedicate their lives to the cause of the country.
The Lucknow Pact (1916)
Partition of Bengal (1905)
l During the 1916 Congress session at Lucknow
l By Lord Curzon on 16th October, 1905 through
two major events occurred. The divided Congress
a royal proclamation, reducing the old province
became united. An understanding for joint action
of Bengal in size by creating East Bengal and
against the British was reached between the
Assam out of the rest of Bengal.
Congress and the Muslim League and it was
l The partition of Bengal in 1905 provided a spark called the Lucknow Pact.
for the rise of extremism in the Indian National
l The signing of the Lucknow Pact by the Congress
Movement.
and the Muslim League in 1916 marked an
l Curzon’s real motives behind this partition were: important step in the Hindu-Muslim unity.
p To break the growing strength of Bengali
nationalism since Bengal was the base of Indian The Home Rule Movement (1916)
nationalism. l Two Home Rule Leagues were established, one
p To divide the Hindus and Muslims in by B.G. Tilak at Poona in April 1916 and the
Bengal. other by Mrs. Annie Besant at Madras in
p To show the enormous power of the British
September 1916.
Government in doing whatever it liked. l While Tilak’s Movement concentrated on
 19

Maharashtra, Annie Besant’s Movement covered Non-Co-operation Movement (1920-22)

the rest of the country. l Mahatma Gandhi announced his plan to begin
August Declaration Non-Cooperation with the government as a sequel
to the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre
l On 20 August, 1917, Montague, the Secretary of
and the Khilafat Movement. It was approved by
State in England, promised the gradual
the Indian National Congress at the Nagpur
development of self-governing institutions in
session in December, 1920.
India.
l The Congress observed the Non-Co-operation
l This August Declaration led to the end of the
movement in 1920. The main aim of this
Home Rule Movement.
movement was to attain Swaraj through non-
Rowlatt Act (1919) violent and peaceful means.
l In 1917, a committee was set up under the l The whole movement was abruptly called off on
presidentship of Sir Sydney Rowlatt to look into 11th February, 1922 by Gandhi following the
the militant Nationalist activities. On the basis Chauri-Chaura incident in the Gorakhpur district
of its report the Rowlatt Act was passed in March of U.P. Many top leaders of the country were
1919 by the Central Legislative Council. As per stunned at this sudden suspension of the Non-
this Act, any person could be arrested on the Co-operation Movement.
basis of suspicion. No appeal or petition could l On 5th February an angry mob set fire to the
be filed against such arrests. police station at Chauri-Chaura and twenty two
l This Act was called the Black Act and it was police men were burnt to death.
widely opposed. An all-India hartal was organized
on 6 April, 1919. Swaraj Party
l Leaders like Motilal Nehru and Chittranjan Das
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
formed a separate group within the Congress
(13 April, 1919)
known as the Swaraj Party on 1 January, 1923.
l On 13th April, the Baisakhi day (harvest festival), l The Swarajists wanted to contest the council
a public meeting was organized at the Jallianwala elections and wreck the government from within.
Bagh (garden). Gen. Dyer marched in and without
any warning opened fire on the crowd. The firing Simon Commission (1927)
continued for about 10 to 15 minutes and it l The Act of 1919 included a provision for its
stopped only after the ammunition exhausted. review after a lapse of ten years. However, the
l According to official report 379 people were review commission under the chairmanship of
killed and 1137 wounded in the incident. There Sir John Simon was appointed by the British
was a nationwide protest against this massacre Government two years earlier of its schedule in
and Rabindranath Tagore renounced his 1927.
knighthood as a protest.
l Indian leaders opposed the commission, as there
Khilafat Movement (1920) were no Indians in it, they cried Simon Go Back.
l The chief cause of the Khilafat Movement was l The government used brutal repression and at
the defeat of Turkey in the First World War. Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in
l The Muslims in India were upset over the British lathi-charge.
attitude against Turkey and launched the Nehru Report (1928)
Khilafat Movement.
l The Secretary of State, Lord Birkenhead,
l Ali brothers, Mohd Ali and Shaukat Ali started
challenged the Indians to produce a Constitution
this movement. It was jointly led by the Khilafat
that would be acceptable to all. The challenge
leaders and the Congress.
 20

was accepted by the Congress, which convened l In January 1932, the Civil-Disobedience
an all party meeting on 28 February, 1928. Movement was resumed.
l A committee consisting of eight was constituted Poona Pact (1932)
to draw up a blueprint for the future Constitution
of India. It was headed by Motilal Nehru. The l The idea of separate electorate for the depressed
Report published by this Committee came to be classes was abandoned, but seats reserved for
known as the Nehru Report. them in the provincial legislature were increased.
l Thus, Poona Pact agreed upon a joint electorate
Lahore Session (1929) for upper and lower castes.
l On Dec. 19, 1929, under the Presidentship of J.L.
Demand for Pakistan
Nehru, the INC, as its Lahore session, declared
Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its l Chaudhary Rehmat Ali gave the term Pakistan
ultimate goal. in 1933.
l On Dec. 31, 1929, the newly adopted tricolour l In March 1940, the Muslim League demanded
flag was unfurled and Jan. 26, 1930 was fixed as the creation of Pakistan.
the First Independence Day, which was to be
Cripps Mission (1942)
celebrated every year.
l The British Government in its effort to secure
Dandi March (1930) Indian co-operation in the Second World War
l On 12th March, 1930, Gandhi began his famous sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India on 23 March,
March to Dandi with his chosen 79 followers to 1942. This is known as Cripps Mission.
break the salt laws. He reached the coast of Dandi l The main recommendations of Cripps was the
on 5 April, 1930 after marching a distance of promise of Dominion Status to India.
200 miles and on 6 April formally launched the l Congress rejected it. Gandhi called Cripp’s
Civil Disobedience Movement by breaking the proposals as a “Post-dated Cheque”.
salt laws.
Quit India Movement (1942-1944)
Civil Disobedience Movement
l The All India Congress Committee met at
l Countrywide mass participation by women. Bombay on 8th August, 1942 and passed the
l The Garhwal soldiers refused to fire on the people famous Quit India Resolution. On the same day,
at Peshawar. Gandhi gave his call of ‘do or die’.
Round Table Conference l On 8th and 9th August, 1942, the government
arrested all the prominent leaders of the Congress.
l The first Round Table Conference was held in Mahatma Gandhi was kept in prison at Poona.
November 1930 at London and it was boycotted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, and
by the Congress. other leaders were imprisoned in the
l On 8th March, 1931 the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was Ahamednagar Fort.
signed. As per this pact, Mahatma Gandhi agreed l Quit India Movement was the final attempt for
to suspend the Civil-Disobedience Movement country’s freedom.
and participate in the Second-Round Table
Conference. Indian National Army (INA)
l In September 1931, the Second Round Table l On July 2, 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose reached
Conference was held at London. Mahatma Gandhi Singapore and gave the rousing war cry of ‘Dilli
participated in the Conference but returned to Chalo’. He was made the President of Indian
India disappointed. Independence League and soon became the
 21

supreme commander of the Indian National Army. power to responsible Indian hands by a date not
He gave the country the slogan of Jai Hind. later than June 1948.
l INA had three fighting brigades named after l Lord Mountbatten armed with vast powers
Gandhi, Azad and Nehru. Rani of Jhansi Brigade became India’s Viceroy on 24 March, 1947. The
was an exclusive women force. INA headquarters partition of India and the creation of Pakistan
were at Rangoon and Singapore. appeared inevitable to him.
l After extensive consultation Lord Mountbatten
Cabinet Mission (1946)
put forth the plan of partition of India on 3 June,
l The Cabinet Mission put forward a plan for 1947. The Congress and the Muslim League
solution of the constitutional problem. A proposal ultimately approved the Mountbatten Plan.
was envisaged for setting up an Interim
Government, which would remain in office till a Indian Independence Act, 1947
new government was elected on the basis of the l The salient features of this Act was the partition
new Constitution framed by the Constituent of the country into India and Pakistan would
Assembly. come into effect from 15 August, 1947.
l Elections were held in July 1946 for the l On 15th August, 1947 India, and on the 14th
formation of a Constituent Assembly. August Pakistan came into existence as two
l Muslim league observed the Direct Action Day independent states.
on 16 August, 1946. l Lord Mountbatten was made the first Governor
l An Interim Government was formed under the General of Independent India, whereas
leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 September, Mohammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor
1946. General of Pakistan.
l C. Rajagopalachari became the first and last
Mountbatten Plan (1947) Indian Governor-General of India. When India
l On 20 February 1947, Prime Minister Atlee became a Republic on 26 January, 1950 Dr.
announced in the House of Commons the definite Rajendra Prasad became the first President of our
intention of the British Government to transfer country.
Socio-Religious Movements and Organisation
Name of the Organisation Founder Year Place
Atmiya Sabha Ram Mohan Roy 1815 Calcutta
Brahmo Samaj Ram Mohan Roy 1828 Calcutta
Dharma Sabha Radhakanta Dev 1829 Calcutta
Tattvabodhini Sabha Debendranath Tagore 1839 Calcutta
Nirankaris Dayal Das, Darbara Singh, Rattan Chand etc. 1840 Punjab
Manav Dharma Sabha Durgaram Manchharam 1844 Surat
Paramhansa Mandli Dadoba Pandurung 1849 Bombay
Namdharis Ram Singh 1857 Punjab
Radha Swami Satsang Tulsi Ram 1861 Agra
Brahmo Samaj of India Keshab Chandra Sen 1866 Calcutta
Dar-ul-Ulum Maulana Hussain Ahmed 1866 Deoband
Prarthna Samaj Atmaram Pandurung 1867 Bombay
Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand Saraswati 1875 Bombay
Theosophical Society Madam H.P. Blavatsky and Col. H.S. Olcott 1875 New York (USA)
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj Anand Mohan Bose 1878 Calcutta
 22

Deccan Education Society G.G. Agarkar 1884 Pune (Poona)

Muhammadan Educational Conference Syed Ahmad Khan 1886 Aligarh
Indian National Conference M.G. Ranade 1887 Bombay
Deva Samaj Shivnarayan Agnihotri 1887 Lahore
Nadwah-ul-Ulama Maulana Shibli Numani 1894 Lucknow
Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda 1897 Belur
Servents of Indian Society Gopal Krishna Gokhale 1905 Bombay
Poona Seva Sadan Mrs. Ramabai Ranade and G.K. Devadhar 1909 Pune (Poona)
Social Service League N.M. Joshi 1911 Bombay
Seva Samiti H.N. Kunzru 1914 Allahabad

Newspapers and Journals l What Congress and Gandhi have done to the
untouchables—Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
l Bengal Gazette (1780) (India’s first
newspaper)—James Augustus Hikky Important Sayings
l Kesari—B.G. Tilak l ‘Back to Vedas’—Dayanand Saraswati
l Maratha—B.G. Tilak l ‘Dilli Chalo!’—Subhash Chandra Bose’s battle
l Sudharak—G.K. Gokhale cry of Azad Hind Fauj
l Amrit Bazar Patrika—Shishir Kumar Ghosh and l ‘Do or Die’—Mahatma Gandhi (while launching
Motilal Ghosh Quit India movement in 1942)
l Yugantar—Bhupendranath Datta and Birender l ‘Give me blood and I will give you freedom’—
Kumar Ghosh Subhash Chandra Bose (in his address to
l Bombay Chronicle—Firoze Shah Mehta soldiers of Azad Hind Fauj)
l New India (Daily)—Annie Besant l ‘My ultimate aim is to wipe every tear from
every eye’—Jawaharlal Nehru
Books and Authors
l ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I will have it’—Bal
l Causes of the Indian Mutiny—Sir Syed Ahmed Gangadhar Tilak
Khan l ‘Inqualab Zindabad’—Bhagat Singh
l Ghulam Giri—Jyotiba Phule l ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’—Lal Bahadur Shastri
l Anandmath—Bankim Chand Chatterjee l ‘Sarfaroshi ki tamanna Ab Hamare Dil mein
l Satyarth Prakash—Swami Dayanand Hai’—Ram Prasad Bismill
l Unhappy India—Lala Lajpat Rai l ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan
l India Divided—Dr. Rajendra Prasad Hamara’—Dr. Mohammed Iqbal
l The Discovery of India—J.L. Nehru l ‘Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan’—Bhartendu
l Neel Darpan—Dinbandhu Mitra Harishchandra
l Hind Swaraj—M.K. Gandhi l ‘Vande Mataram’—Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

p p p
 23

GEOGRAPHY
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
THE UNIVERSE l The sun is an ultimate source of energy for life
on Earth.
l Existing matter and energy are together known l Sunlight takes 8 min 16.6 sec to reach earth.
as Universe.
GALAXY Facts about Sun
l A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars and Diameter — 1.392 × 10 6 km
clouds of dust and gases. Volume — 1.304 × 106 times the volume
l Our solar system is a part of Milky Way galaxy. of earth
l There are millions of galaxies that make the Temperature — 6000°C at surface and 15 million
Universe. degree C at the centre
STARS Relative density — 1.4
l Stars account for 98 per cent of the matter in a Gravitational Pull — 28 times the gravitational pull of
galaxy. The stars nearest to the earth are Proxima the earth
Centauri, Alpha Centauri, Barnard's Star, Sirius
and so on. Of these, Sirius is the brightest. Facts about Planets
Closest to Sun Mercury
LIGHT YEAR Farthest from Sun Neptune
l Light year is the distance travelled by light in Heaviest Jupiter
one year at a speed of 2,99,792.5 km. per second. Hottest Venus
SOLAR SYSTEM Inner Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
l The Sun, eight planets, satellites and some other Largest Jupiter
celestial bodies known as asteroids and Smallest Mercury
meteoroids form the solar system. Moons, None Mercury, Venus
Moon; Largest Ganymede (Jupiter), larger than
Mercury
Nearest to Earth Venus
Mercury
Earth
Asteroids Moon Orbits; Order Mercury (closest to Sun), Venus,
Saturn Sun
Neptune
Uranus
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Jupiter
Mars
Uranus, Neptune.
Rings/largest number Saturn
Spin; Backwards Venus (East to West)
SUN COMETS
l The Sun is in the centre of the solar system. l It has a head and a tail. Its tail originates only
l The Sun is a mixture of gases. It consists of 92% when it gets closer to the sun. The tail can be 20-
hydrogen, 7.8% helium and 0.2% other gases. 30 million km long. It always point away from
l The Sun is about 150 million km away from the the sun because of the force exerted by solar
earth. wind and radiation on the cometory material.
23
 24

THE EARTH l 23½°N represents Tropic of Cancer while 23½°S

l The earth is the third nearest planet to the Sun. represents Tropic of Capricorn.
l From the outer space, the earth appears blue
LONGITUDE
because its two-thirds surface is covered by water.
It is, therefore, called a blue planet. l It is the angular distance measured from the centre
of the earth. On the globe the lines of longitude
l It is the densest of all planets. are drawn as a series of semicircles that extend
l Rotation is the movement of the earth on its from the North Pole to the South Pole through
axis. Due to this rotation, day and night occur. the equator. They are also called meridians.
l The earth takes about 23 hours 56 minutes and l The distance between any two meridians is not
4 seconds to complete one rotation around its axis. equal. At the equator, 1 degree = 111 km. At
l Earth takes 365¼ days (one year) to revolve 30°N or S, it is 96.5 km. It goes on decreasing
around the sun. this way until it is zero at the poles.
THE EARTH: FACTS AND FIGURES INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
l Mass of Earth—5.972 × 1021 tonnes l It is the 180° meridian running over the Pacific
l Density of Earth—5.517 times that of water Ocean, deviating at Aleutian Islands, Fiji, Samoa
l Volume of Earth—1.083 × 1011 cubic km and Gilbert Islands.
l Equatorial circumference—4.007 × 104 km l Travellers crossing the Date Line from west to
l Polar Diameter—12,714 km east repeat a day and travellers crossing it from
l Equatorial Diameter—12756 km east to west lose a day.
l Polar or Meridional circumference—4.0 × 104 km INDIAN STANDARD TIME (IST)
l Estimated Age—At least 4600 million years l Indian Standard Time is calculated on the basis
l Land Surface—148,951,000 sq km of 82.5°E longitude which passes through Uttar
l Water Surface—361,150,000 sq km (71 per cent Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chattisgarh
of total area) and Andhra Pradesh.
l Highest Point of the land surface—Mt. Everest
(8,848 metres) ECLIPSES
l Lowest point of the land surface—Shores of the l Sun is the only source of light for both the Earth
Dead Sea (396 metres below the sea level) and Moon. Eclipses occur when the light thus
l Greatest Ocean depth—Mariana Trench, East of received is either blocked by the earth or by the
Philippines (11,033 metres below the sea level) Moon.
THE MOON l Eclipses occur when either the Earth moves
l Earth has only one satellite, that is, the moon. behind the Moon’s shadow or the Moon moves
behind the Earth’s shadow.
l Its diameter is only one-quarter that of the earth.
It is about 3,84,400 km away from us. LUNAR ECLIPSE
l The moon moves around the earth in about 27 l Lunar eclipse occur only when the following
days. It takes exactly the same time to complete conditions are met.
one spin. As a result, only one side of the moon 1. The Sun, Earth and Moon must be aligned in
(only 59% of its surface) is visible to us on the earth. a straight line.
l Moonlight takes 1.3 sec. to reach earth. 2. The Earth must be positioned between the
Sun and the Moon.
LATITUDE 3. The Moon must be in its full phase (Full Moon).
l Imaginary lines drawn parallel to the equator. SOLAR ECLIPSE
Measured as an angle whose apex is at the centre l Solar eclipses occur only when the following
of the earth. conditions are met.
l The equator represents 0° latitude, while the 1. The Sun, Earth and Moon must be aligned in
North Pole is 90°N and the South Pole 90°S. a straight line.
 25 (137) G.K.—4

2. The Moon must be positioned between the l Extinct Not erupted for several centuries, e.g.,
Sun and the Earth. Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland.
3. Must be a New Moon day.
EARTHQUAKES
ROCKS l Earthquakes are a form of wave energy that is
l Rocks are composed of many minerals such as transferred through bedrock. It is transmitted from
silica, aluminium, iron and magnesium. The the point of the earthquake focus, as spherical
nature of the rock is determined by the presence seismic waves. They travel in all directions outward.
of its minerals.
l The intensity of earthquake waves is recorded by
l Rocks can be classified into three types: Seismograph.
1. Igneous rocks are formed by magma that
reaches the earth’s surface along deep cracks LANDFORMS
and at volcanic vents. e.g., Mica, Granite etc.
2. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the l There are three major landforms: mountains,
accumulation and cementation of mud, silt, or plateaus and plains.
sand derived from weathered igneous rock frag-
ments. e.g., Gravel, Peat, Gypsum etc. MOUNTAINS
3. Metamorphic rocks are igneous or sedimentary l A mountain can be defined as an area of land
rocks that have been altered by heat and/or that rises abruptly from the surrounding region.
pressure, either because they have been buried l There are three types of mountains- Fold
and folded deep in the crust, or because they Mountains, Block Mountains and the Volcanic
have come into contact with molten igneous
Mountains.
rock, e.g., Gneiss, Marble, Quartzite etc.
l Himalayas, Alps, Andes, Rockies, Atlas, etc are
VOLCANOES
examples of Fold Mountains.
Sudden eruption of hot magma (molten rock), gases,
ash and other material from inside the Earth to its l The Aravali range in India is one of the oldest
surface. fold mountain systems in the world.
l Active which erupts frequently, e.g., Mauna Loa l The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain in
(Hawaii), Etna (Sicily), Vesuvius (Italy), Stromboli Europe are examples of such mountain systems.
(Mediterranean Sea). l Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic
l Dormant Not erupted for quite sometime, e.g., activity.
Fujiyama (Japan), Krakatoa (Indonesia), Barren l Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt. Fujiyama in
Island (Andamans). Japan are examples of such mountains.

Major Mountain Ranges of the World

Range Location Highest Peak (m) Length (km)
Andes South America 6,960 7,200
Himalayas-Karakoram-Hindukush South Central Asia 8,848 4,800
Rockies North America 4,401 4,800
Great Dividing Range East Australia 2,228 3,600
Western Ghat Western India 2,637 1,610
Caucasus Europe 5,642 1,200
Alaska USA 6,194 1,130
Alps Europe 4,808 1,050
Apennines Europe 2,912 —
Ural Asia 1,895 —
Atlas North West Africa — 1,930
 26

PLATEAUS PLAINS
l A plateau is an elevated flat land. It is a flat- l A relatively low-lying and flat land surface with
topped table land standing above the surrounding least difference between its highest and lowest
area. points is called a Plain.
Principal Mountain Peaks of the World
OCEANS
Mountains Height in Metres
l Oceans of the world is classified into four groups:
1. Mount Everest 8,848 the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Indian.
2. K-2 (Godwin Austen) 8,611
l The Pacific is the largest ocean, being twice the
3. Kanchenjunga 8,597
4. Lhotse 8,511
size of the Atlantic. It covers about a third of the
5. Makalu I 8,481 Earth’s surface, and contains more than half the
6. Dhaulagiri I 8,167 water on the planet.
7. Mansalu I 8,156 Oceans of the World
8. Chollyo 8,153
9. Nanga Parbat 8,124 Names Area (Sq. Km.) Greatest Depth
10. Annapurna I 8,091 Pacific 166,240000 Mariana Trench
11. Gasherbrum I 8,068
Atlantic 86,560000 Puerto Rico
12. Broad Peak I 8,047
Trench
13. Gasherbrum II 8,034
14. Shisha Pangma (Gosainthan) 8,014 Indian 73430000 Java Trench
15. Gasherbrum III 7,952 Arctic 13230000 —

Major Rivers of the World

River Origin Falls in Length (Km.)
Nile Victoria lake Mediterranean Sea 6,650
Amazon Andes (Peru) Atlantic Ocean 6,428
Yangtze Tibetan Kiang Plateau China Sea 6,300
Mississippi Missouri Itaska lake (USA) Gulf of Mexico (USA) 6,275
Yenisei Tannu-Ola Mts. Arctic Ocean 5,539
Hoang Ho Kunlun Mts. Gulf of Chibli 5,464
Ob Altai Mts., Russia Gulf of Ob 5,410
Congo Lualaba & Luapula rivers Atlantic Ocean 4,700
Amur Northeast China Sea of Okhotsk 4,444
Lena Baikal Mts Laptev Sea 4,400
Mekong Tibetan Highlands South China Sea 4,350
Mackenzie Great Slave Lake Beaufort Sea 4,241
Niger Guinea Gulf of Guinea 4,200

Major Gulfs of the World

Names Area (Sq. Km.) Names Areas (Sq. Km.)
Gulf of Mexico 15,44,000 Gulf of St. Lawrence 2,37,000
Gulf of Hudson 12,33,000 Gulf of California 1,62,000
Arabian Gulf 2,38,000 English Channel 89,900
 27

Important Straits of the World

Straits Water Bodies joined Area
Bab-al-Mandeb Red Sea & Arabian Sea Arabia & Africa
Bering Arctic Ocean & Bering Sea Alaska & Asia
Bosphorus Black Sea & Marmara Sea Turkey
Dover North Sea & Atlantic Ocean England & Europe
Florida Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic Ocean Florida & Bahamas Islands
Gibralter Mediterranean Sea & Atlantic Ocean Spain & Africa
Malacca Java Sea & Bay of Bengal India & Indonesia
Palk Bay of Bengal & Indian Ocean India & Sri Lanka
Magellan South Pacific & South Atlantic Ocean Chile
Sunda Java Sea & Indian Ocean Indonesia

Important Lakes of the World Important Cities on River Banks (World)

Lake Location Area City Country River
(Sq. Km.)
Adelaide Australia Torrens
Caspian Russia and CIS 371000 Amsterdam Netherlands Amsel
Superior Canada and USA 82414 Alexandria Egypt Nile
Victoria Tanzania (Africa) 69485
Ankara Turkey Kazil
Huron Canada and USA 59596
Bangkok Thailand Chao Praya
Michigan USA 58016
Basra Iraq Eupharates and
Tanganyika Africa 32892
Tigris
Baikal Russia (CIS) 31502
Baghdad Iraq Tigris
Great Bear Canada 31080
Malawi Malawi (Tanzania) 30044 Berlin Germany Spree
Great Slave Canada 28438 Bonn Germany Rhine
Budapest Hungary Danube
Highest Waterfalls of the World Bristol UK Avon
Buenos Aires Argentina Laplata
Name(s) (Foreign) Location
Chittagong Bangladesh Majyani
Angel (Salto Angel) Canaima Nat’l Park, Venezuela
Canton China Si-Kiang
Tugela Natal Nat’l Park, South Africa
Cairo Egypt Nile
Utigord (Utigordsfoss) Norway
Chung King China Yang-tse-kiang
Monge (Mongefoss) Marstein, Norway
Cologne Germany Rhine
Gocta Cataracts Chachapoyas, Peru
Dandzing Germany Vistula
Mutarazi (Mtarazi) Nyanga Nat’l Park,
Dresden Germany Elbe
Zimbabwe
Dublin Ireland Liffy
Yosemite Yosemite Nat’l Park,
Hamburg Germany Elbe
California, U.S.
Kabul Afghanistan Kabul
Espelands Hardanger Fjord,
Karachi Pakistan Indus
(Espelandsfoss) Norway
Khortoum Sudan Confluence of
Lower Mar Valley Eikesdal, Norway
Blue & White Nile
(Ostra Mardolafoss)
Lahore Pakistan Ravi
Tyssestrengene Odda, Norway
Leningrad Russia Neva
 28

Gate of Tears—Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb

City Country River
Gift of the Nile—Egypt
Lisbon Portugal Tagus
Granite City—Aberdeen (Scotland)
Liverpool England Messey
Hermit Kingdom—Korea
London England Thames
Herring Pond—Atlantic Ocean
Moscow Russia Moskva Holy Land—Jerusalem
Montreal Canada St. Lawrence Island Continent—Australia
Nanking China Yang-tse-kiang Islands of Cloves—Zanzibar
New Orleans U.S.A. Mississipi Isle of Pearls—Bahrein (Persian Gulf)
New York U.S.A. Hudson Key to the Mediterranean—Gibralter
Ottawa Canada Ottawa Land of Cakes—Scotland
Paris France Seine Land of Golden Fleece—Australia
Philadelphia U.S.A Delaware Land of Maple Leaf—Canada
Perth Australia Swan Land of Morning Calm—Korea
Prague Czech Republic Vitava Land of Midnight Sun—Norway
Quebec Canada St. Lawrence Land of the Thousand Lakes—Finland
Rome Italy Tiber Land of the Thunderbolt—Bhutan
Rotterdam The Netherlands New Moss Land of White Elephant—Thailand
Stalingrad Russia Volga Land of Thousand Elephants—Laos
Shanghai China Yang-tse-kiang Land of Rising Sun—Japan
Sidney Australia Darling Loneliest Island—Tristan De Gunha (Mid-Atlantic)
Saint Louis U.S.A Mississippi Manchester of Japan—Osaka
Tokyo Japan Arakava Pillars of Hercules—Strait of Gibraltar
Vienna Austria Danube Pearl of the Antilles—Cuba
Warsaw Poland Vistula Playground of Europe—Switzerland
Washington D.C. U.S.A. Potomac Quaker City—Philadelphia
Yangoon Myanmar Irawaddy Queen of the Adriatic—Venice
Roof of the World—The Pamirs, Central Asia
World’s Geographical Surnames Sugar bowl of the world—Cuba
City of Sky-scrapers—New York Venice of the North—Stockholm
City of Seven Hills—Rome Windy City—Chicago
City of Dreaming Spires—Oxford Whiteman’s grave—Guinea Coast of Africa
Yellow River—Huang Ho (China)
City of Golden Gate—San Francisco
Sickman of Europe—Turkey
City of Magnificent Buildings—Washington D.C.
City of Eternal Springs—Quito (S. America) Important Boundaries
China’s Sorrow—Hwang Ho Durand Line Pakistan & Afghanistan
Cockpit of Europe—Belgium MacMohan Line India & China
Dark Continent—Africa Radcliff Line India & Pakistan
Maginot Line France & Germany
Emerald Isle—Ireland
Oder Niesse Line Germany & Poland
Eternal City—Rome
Hindenberg Line Poland & Germany (at the time
Empire City—New York of First World War)
Forbidden City—Lhasa (Tibet) 38th Parallel North & South Korea
Garden City—Chicago 49th Parallel USA & Canada
 29

Continents: Some Facts

Continent Biggest Counrty Highest Peak Longest River
Asia China Mt. Everest (8848 m) Yangtze Kiang
Africa Algeria Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m) Nile
North America Canada Mt. Mckinley (6194 m) Mississippi Missouri
South America Brazil Mt. Acancagua (6960 m) Amazon
Europe Russia Mt. Elbrus (5642 m) Ob
Australia Australia Mt. Coscuisco (2228 m) Darling
Antarctica — Vinson Massif (5140 m) —

INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
There are 28 States (After reorganisation of J&K
AREA AND LOCATION
l

in 2019) and 8 Union Territories (After merger of

l India is in the southern parts of the Asian Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu in 2020).
continent. In the west of India lies the Arabian l 82°30' E longitude is considered as the Indian
Peninsula while in the east lies the Indo-China Standard Meridian. The local time of this
Peninsula. longitude is taken as the Indian Standard Time
l India extends between 8°4' N and 37°6' N (IST). This is 5½ hours ahead of the Greenwich
latitudes and between 68°7' E and 97°2' E Mean Time.
longitudes. THE INDIAN STATES ON INTERNATIONAL
l India, has a total geographic area of 32,87,263 BOUNDARIES ARE:
sq. km. This is only 2.42 % of the total geographic l Bordering Pakistan: Jammu and Kashmir,
area of the world but holds 17 per cent of the Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat.
world’s population. l Bordering China: Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh,
l The 23½ºN, which is the Tropic of Cancer, runs Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh.
across the country. l Bordering Nepal: Bihar, Uttarakhand, UP,
l India has a length of 3214 km from north to Sikkim, West Bengal.
south and 2933 km from east to west. It has a l Bordering Bangladesh: West Bengal, Mizoram,
land frontier of 15200 km. Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam.
l The total length of the coastline of the mainland, l Bordering Bhutan: West Bengal, Sikkim,
Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman and Nicobar Arunachal Pradesh, Assam.
Islands is 7,516.6 km. l Bordering Myanmar: Arunachal Pradesh,
l India ranks seventh among the countries of the Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram.
world, in terms of the geographical extent. l Bordering Afghanistan: Jammu and Kashmir
l India is bordered on three sides by water and on (Pakistan-occupied area).
one by land, it is also a peninsula. Important Passes
l India shares its common border with Afghanistan Kashmir Burzi-La, Joji-La
and Pakistan in the north-west, China and Bhutan Himachal Pradesh Bara La, Cha-La, Shipki-La
in the north, and Bangladesh in the east. In the Uttarakhand Niti-La, Lipu-Lekh-La
south, Sri Lanka is separated from India by a Sikkim Jelep-La, Nathu-La
strait, known as the Palk Strait. Arunachal Pradesh Bomdi-La
 30

Heighest Mountain Peaks of India Lucknow Gomti

Ludhiana Sutlej
Peaks Elevation• (in mts.) Nasik Godavari
Godwin Austin (K2) 8611 Pandharpur Bhima
Kanchenjunga 8598* Patna The Ganges
Nanga Parvat 8126* Sambalpur Mahanadi
Gasherbrum 8068* Srinagar Jhelum
Broad Peak 8047* Srirangapattam Cauveri
Dastegil 7885* Surat Tapti
Masherbrum (East) 7821* Varanasi The Ganges
Nanda Devi 7817 Vijaywada Krishna
Masherbrum (West) 7806*
Waterfalls of India
Rakoposhi 7788*
Kamet 7756 Waterfall Hgt (Mt.) River State
Saser Kangdi 7672 Jog/Gersoppa 260 Sharavati Karnataka
• Above mean sea level in metres. Rakim Kund 168 Gaighat Bihar
* Situated in Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK). Chachai 127 Bihad Madhya
Towns at River Banks Pradesh
Kevti 98 Mahanadi Madhya
Town River Pradesh
Agra Yamuna Sivasamudram 90 Cauveri Karnataka
Prayagraj Confluence of the Kunchikal 45.5 Varani Karnataka
Ganges and the Yamuna
Ayodhya Saryu Important Lakes of India
Badrinath The Ganges
Name of lake State
Kolkata Hooghly
Pulicat Lake Tamil Nadu & Andhra
Cuttuck Mahanadi
Pradesh Border
Delhi Yamuna
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan
Dibrugarh Brahmaputra
Tso Moriri Lake Jammu & Kashmir
Ferozepur Satluj
Vembanad Lake Kerala
Guwahati Brahmaputra
Wular & Dal Lakes Jammu and Kashmir
Hardwar The Ganges
Chilka Lake Odisha
Hyderabad Musi
Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh
Jabalpur Narmada
Loktak Lake Manipur
Kanpur The Ganges
Lonar Lake Maharashtra
Kota Chambal
Pangong Lake Jammu and Kashmir
Kurnool Tungbhadra

Rivers of India
Name Originates From Falls Into
Yamuna Yamunotri Ganga
Chambal Singar Chouri Peak, Vindhyan escarpment Yamuna
Ghaghara Matsatung Glacier Ganga
 31

Name Originates From Falls Into

Kosi Near Gosain Dham Peak Ganga
Sabarmati Aravalis Gulf of Khambat
Krishna Western Ghats Bay of Bengal
Godavari Nasik district in Maharashtra Bay of Bengal
Caurey Brahmagir Range of Western Ghats Bay of Bengal
Tungabharda Western Ghats Krishna
Ganges Combines Sources Bay of Bengal
Sutlej Mansarovar Rakas lakes Chenab
Indus Near Mansarovar Lake Arabian Sea
Ravi Kullu Hills near Rohtang Pass Chenab
Beas Near Rohtang Pass Sutlej
Jhelum Verinag in Kashmir Chenab
Son Amarkantak Ganga
Brahmaputra Near Mansarovar Lake Bay of Bengal
Narmada Amarkantak Gulf of Khambat
Tapti Betul District in Madhya Pradesh Gulf of Khambat
Mahanadi Raipur District in Chhattisgarh Bay of Bengal
Luni Aravallis Rann of Kuchchh
Ghaggar Himalayas Near Fatehabad
Betwa Vindhyanchal Yamuna

Geographical Surnames
Bengal’s Sorrow Damodar River City of Lakes Srinagar
City of Palaces Kolkata Twin City Hyderabad-
Gateway of India Mumbai Secunderabad
City of Seven Islands Mumbai
Pink City Jaipur
Diamond Harbour Kolkata
Paris of India Jaipur
Switzerland of India Kashmir
Manchester of India Ahmedabad
Rice Bowl Chhattisgarh
Kashmir of South Kerala
Fruit Bowl Himachal Pradesh
Son of Sea Lakshadweep
Ganga of South Cauvery
Queen of Mountains Mussourie
Pitsburg of India Jamshedpur
Iron City Jamshedpur
City of Bridges Srinagar
Hollywood of India Mumbai
Residence of God Allahabad
Scotland of East Meghalaya A Cross-road (Quadrivial)
City of Nababs Lucknow of National Highways Kanpur
City of Temples & Ghats Varanasi Heart of India Delhi
Land of Five Rivers Punjab Black River Sharda
City of Golden Temple Amritsar City of Festivals Madurai
Garden of India Bangaluru Queen of Deccan Pune
Spice Garden of India Kerala Sorrow of Bihar Kosi River
 32

Some Major Irrigational and Multipurpose Projects

S.No. Name of Project Related State River
1. Bargi Project Madhya Pradesh Bargi
2. Beas Joint Venture of Haryana, Beas
Punjab and Rajasthan
3. Bhadra Karnakata Bhadra
4. Bhakra Nangal Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan Sutluj
5. Bhima I Maharashtra Pawana
6. Bhima II Maharashtra Krishna
7. Chambal Joint Project of M.P. and Rajasthan Chambal
8. Damodar Valley Project West Bengal and Bihar Damodar
9. Dulhasti Power Project Jammu and Kashmir Chenab
10. Farakka West Bengal Hooghly
11. Gandak Bihar and U.P. Gandak
12. Ghataprabha Karnataka Ghataprabha
13. Hasdeo Bango Project Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Hasdeo
14. Hirakud Odisha Mahanadi
15. Jayakwadi Maharashtra Godavari
16. Kakrapara Gujarat Tapti
17. Kangsbati West Bengal Kangsbati and Kumari
18. Karjan Gujarat Karjan
19. Kosi Bihar Kosi
20. Koyana Maharashtra Koyana
21. Krishna Project Maharashtra Krishna
22. Kukadi Maharashtra Kukadi
23. Left Bank Ghagra Canal Uttar Pradesh Ghagra
24. Madhya Ganga Canal Uttar Pradesh Ganga
25. Mahanadi Delta Odisha (The irrigation scheme
Scheme will utilise releases from
Hirakund Reservoir)
26. Mahi Gujarat Mahi
27. Malaprabha Karnataka Malaprabha
28. Mayurakshi West Bengal Mayurakshi
29. Nagarjunasagar Andhra Pradesh Krishna
30. Panam Gujarat Panam
31. Parambikulam Aliyar Tamil Nadu and Kerala Perimbikulam
32. Pochampad Andhra Pradesh Godavari
33. Pong Dam Punjab Beas
34. Ramganga Uttarakhand Ramganga
35. Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam) Punjab Ravi
36. Rihand Uttar Pradesh Rihand
37. Sabarmati Gujarat Sabarmati
 33 (137) G.K.—5

S.No. Name of Project Related State River

38. Sharda Sahayak U.P. Ghagra
39. Sone High Level Canal Bihar Sone
40. Tawa Madhya Pradesh Tawa
41. Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi
42. Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Tungabhadra
43. Ukai Gujarat Tapti
44. Upper Krishna Karnataka Krishna
45. Upper Penganga Maharashtra Penganga
46. Uri Power Project Jammu and Kashmir Jhelum

Major Indian Crops

Crops Temp(°c) Water(cm) States where Produced
Wheat 15°-25° 60-90 Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana.
Rice 24°-26° 80-200 West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Punjab
Maize 18°-21° 50-60 Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra
Jowar 20°-35° 40-60 Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka
Soyabean 25°-27° 50-120 Madhya Pradesh
Cotton 20°-30° 80-150 Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
Tobacco 20°-25° 75-80 Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
Tea 24°-30° 100-200 Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh
Ground Nut 15°-25° 60-130 Gujarat, Maharashtra

Mineral Wealth at a Glance (Metallic Minerals)

Mineral Chief Producers
Bauxite Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand
Chromite Odisha, Karnataka
Coal Jharkhand, Odisha
Copper Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
Diaspore Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Gold Karnataka
Iron Odisha, Karnataka, Goa
Lead Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh
Lignite Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir
Manganese Odisha, Karnataka
Natural Gas Gujarat, Assam
Petroleum Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh
Silver Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat
Tungsten Rajasthan
Zinc Rajasthan, Maharashtra
 34 (137) G.K.—5-II

Zones and Headquarters of Indian Railways Major Ports of Country

1. Kolkata
S.No. Zone Headquarters
2. Mumbai
1. Central Mumbai (Victoria 3. Nhava Sheva (J.L. Nehru Port)
Terminus)
4. Tuticorin
2. Eastern Kolkata
3. Northern New Delhi
5. Chennai
4. North-Eastern Gorakhpur 6. Mormugao
5. North-East Frontier Maligaon, Guwahati 7. New Mangalore
6. Southern Chennai 8. Paradeep
7. South-Central Secunderabad 9. Kandla
8. South-Eastern Kolkata
10. Vishakhapatnam
9. Western Mumbai, Churchgate
10. East Coast Bhubaneswar
11. Cochin
11. East Central Hajipur 12. Haldia
12. North Central Allahabad 13. Ennore.
13. North Western Jaipur
Major International Airports in India
14. South Western Bengaluru (Hubli)
15. West Central Jabalpur International Airports City
16. South East Central Bilaspur
Indira Gandhi Delhi
17. Metro Railway Kolkata International Airport
18. South Coast Railway Vishakhapatnam
Anna International Airport Chennai
Major National Highways Sri Guru Ram Das Jee Amritsar
International Airport
NH Connects Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad
NH 1 New Delhi-Ambala-Jalandhar-Amritsar International Airport
Calicut International Airport Kozhikode
NH 2 Delhi-Mathura-Agra-Kanpur-Allahabad-
Varanasi-Kolkata Chhatrapati Shivaji Mumbai
International Airport
NH 3 Agra-Gwalior-Nasik-Mumbai
Kempegowda International Bengaluru
NH 4 Thane and Chennai via Pune and
Airport
Belgaum
Dabolim International Airport in Goa
NH 5 Kolkata-Chennai Vasco di Gama City
NH 6 Kolkata-Dhule Netaji Subash Chandra Kolkata
NH 7 Varanasi-Kanyakumari (2369 km) Bose International Airport
NH 8 Delhi-Mumbai (via Jaipur, Baroda and Trivendrum Thiruvanan-
Ahmedabad) International Airport thapuram
NH 9 Mumbai-Vijaywada Lokpriya Gopinath Guwahati
NH 10 Delhi-Fazilka Bordoloi International Airport
NH 24 Delhi-Lucknow Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ahmedabad
NH 26 Lucknow-Varanasi International Airport

p p p
 35

INDIAN POLITY
INDIAN CONSTITUTION THE PREAMBLE
l Demand for a Constituent Assembly composed l The Preamble of the Constitution: “We the
of the people of India officially asserted by the people of India, having solemnly resolved to
Congress for the first time in 1935. Constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist,
l The election for Indian Constitution Assembly Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all
held in 1946 according to the Cabinet Mission its citizen:
Plan. Justice, Social, economic and political;
l The first session of the Assembly was held in Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and
New Delhi on December 9, 1946. Sachidanand worship;
Sinha was elected provisional chairman of the Equality of status and of opportunity; and to
session. promote among them all;
l On December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual
elected as the Permanent Chairman of the and the unity and integrity of the nation;
Constituent Assembly. In our Constituent Assembly, this twenty-sixth
l The Constitution was framed by the Constituent day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact
Assembly of India, set-up in December 1946, in and give to ourselves this constitution.”
accordance with the Cabinet Mission Plan, under
Foreign Sources of Indian Constitution
the Chairmanship of Sachidanand Sinha, initially.
l The total membership of Constituent Assembly Foreign Subject
after partition was 299, among them 70 were Sources
representatives from the Indian states and others Britain Parliamentary system, collective
from British India. responsibilities of Cabinet
l The Chairman of the Drafting Committee was America Fundamental right, Independent
Dr. BR Ambedkar, also called the Father of the Judiciary, Judicial review
Constitution. Canada Division of powers
l The Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 Ireland Directive principles
months and 18 days to complete the Constitution. Germany Emergency provisions
l The Constitution, adopted on 8th November, Russia Fundamental duties
1949, contained 395 Articles and Schedules. Australia Concurrent list
l The Constitution was delayed till 26th January
because, in 1929, on this day Indian National IMPORTANT ARTICLES
Congress demanded Poorna Swaraj in Lahore
PART - I
Session under JL Nehru.
l Indian Constitution is a comprehensive document UNION AND ITS TERRITORIES (ARTICLE 1 - 4)
and it is the lengthiest written Constitution in l The Constitution says, “India, that is Bharat,
the World. shall be a Union of States”.
35
 36

l Parliament has the power to create any State, beings and forced labour and the employment
reduce it, change the name of boundaries of any of children under 14 years in factories or
State. mines, are punishable offences.
PART - II 6. Rights to Constitutional Remedies: When a
citizen finds that any of his fundamental rights
CITIZENSHIP (ARTICLE 5 - 11)
has been encroached upon, he can move the
l The Constitution provides for a single Supreme Court, which has been empowered
Citizenship. to safeguard the fundamental rights of a citizen
l Indian Citizenship can be acquire: (Article 32).
1. by birth PART - IV
2. by descent
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
3. by registration
(ARTICLE 36 - 51)
4. by naturalisation
l Directive principles are not enforceable through
5. by incorporation of territory courts. Main aim of Directive principles is to
l Indian Citizenship can be lost by: provide social and economic base of a genuine
1. renunciation; democracy.
2. termination — it takes place if a citizen of Some Important Directive Principles:
India voluntary acquires the citizenship of l Provisions for adequate means of livelihood for
another country; and all citizens (Art. 39).
3. deprivation — if the Government terminates l Right to work (Art. 41).
the citizenship.
l Right to human condition of work and maternity
PART - III relief (Art. 42).
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS (ARTICLE 12 - 35) l Right to a living wage and condition of work
l Following fundamental rights are enjoyed by ensuring decent standard of life of worker (Art.
every Indian citizen, irrespective of caste, colour, 43).
creed and sex: l Common Civil Code (Art. 44).
1. Right to Equality: No special privileges, no l Prohibit consumption of liquor (Art. 47).
distinction on grounds of religion, caste, creed l Prevent slaughter of useful cattle (Art. 48).
and sex. l Organise Panchayati Raj (Art. 40).
2. Right to Freedom: The right to freedom of l Separate the judiciary from the executive (Art. 50).
expression and speech, the right to choose l Protect and maintain places of historic
one’s own profession, the right to reside in monuments (Art. 49).
any part of the Indian Union.
l International peace (Art. 51).
3. Right to Freedom to Religion: Except when
PART - IV A
it is in the interest of public order, morality,
health or other conditions, everybody has the FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES (ARTICLE 51A)
right to profess, practice and propagate his l The fundamental duties for the Indian citizens
religion freely. have been incorporated in the Constitution
4. Cultural and Educational Rights: The through the Constitution (42nd) Amendment Act,
Constitution provides that every community 1976. These duties are:
can run its own institutions to preserve its
1. to abide by the Constitution and respect its
own culture and language.
ideals and institutions, the National Flag and
5. Right against Exploitation: Traffic in human the National Anthem;
 37

2. to cherish and follow the noble deeds which l Election: Indirectly elected through Electoral
inspired our national struggle for freedom; College consisting of elected members of
3. to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity both the Houses of the Parliament and elected
and integrity of India; members of the Legislative Assemblies of the
4. to defend the country and render national States.
service when called upon to do so; l According to the 70th Amendment Act, 1992,
5. to promote harmony and the spirit of common the expression ‘States’ include the National
brotherhood amongst all the people Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory
transcending religious, regional or sectional of Puducherry. Members of the Legislative
diversities and to renounce practices Councils have no right to vote in the Presidential
derogatory to the dignity of women; election.
6. to value and preserve the rich heritage of our l Powers: He makes appointments to all the
composite culture; constitutional posts.
7. to protect and improve natural environment l He can address either House of Parliament and
including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, dissolve Lok Sabha.
and to have compassion for living creatures; l All Bills passed by Parliament must receive his
8. to develop the scientific temper, humanism assent to become an Act.
and the spirit of inquiry and reform; l He issues ordinances when Parliament is not in
9. to safeguard public property and to abjure session. No Money Bill can be introduced in
violence; Lok Sabha without his recommendation.
10. to strive towards excellence in all spheres of l He appoints 12 members of special repute in the
individual and collective activity so that the Rajya Sabha and 2 members in the Lok Sabha of
nation constantly rises to higher levels of the Anglo-Indian Community.
endeavour and achievement.
l He has the power of Pardon to a criminal in
11. who is parent or guardian to provide special cases.
opportunities for education to his child or, as
l The President holds the office for a period of five
the case may be, ward between age of six and
years. He is eligible for re-election.
fourteen years.
l He is also entitled to rent free official residence
PART - V
called Rashtrapati Bhawan.
UNION (ARTICLE 52 - 151)
VICE-PRESIDENT
T HE PRESIDENT l Article 63 of the Constitution stipulates a Vice-
l The President is the Constitutional head of the President for India.
Republic of India. He is more or less the titular l The Vice-President acts as the ex-officio
head of the executive. Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya
l He is the constitutional head but not the real Sabha).
executive. The real power is vested in the hands l He is elected by an electoral college consisting
of the Council of Ministers. of the members of both Houses of Parliament in
l President is the first citizen of India. accordance with the system of proportional
l Qualifications: (i) Indian citizen, (ii) age not less represen-tation by means of the single trans-
than 35 years, (iii) should have qualification for ferable vote. He must be a citizen of India,
election to Lok Sabha, (iv) should not hold any not less than 35 years of age, and should be
office of profit, (v) should not be a Member of eligible for election as a member of the Council
Parliament or State Legislature. of States.
 38

l Disputes in connection with election of a well-known personalities in the realm of Science,

president or a vice-president are to be a dealt Art, Literature and Social Service. Rest of 238
with in accordance with Article-71. Such disputes representatives of the States and Union Territories
shall be decided by the Supreme Court. are elected.
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS l Currently, the strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245.

l The Constitution of India provides for a LOK SABHA

parliament system of government under which l The Lok Sabha whose life is five years, is the
the President is only Constitutional ruler and the Lower House of Parliament and comprises of
real power is exercised by the Council of members directly elected by the people.
Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. l The House of the people (Lok Sabha) at present
l Council of Ministers is composed of all Union consists of 545 members, of these, 543 members
Ministers—the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers are directly elected from the states and Union
and Ministers of State. Territories while 2 are nominated by the President
l The Council of Ministers is Collectively from Anglo-Indian community.
responsible to the Lok Sabha. l The House of the People shall continue for five
l The Prime Minister is a link between the years (unless sooner dissolved) from the date of
President and the Council of Ministers. its meeting and no longer and the expiry of the
said period of 5 years shall operate as dissolution
PRIME MINISTER
of the House.
l The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority
party in the Parliament. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
l He is appointed by the President. Other Ministers l There are several Parliamentary Committees to
are appointed by the president on his advice. assist the Parliament in its deliberations.
l The Prime Minister is the head of the Government l These are appointed or elected by the respective
and the head of the Council of Ministers. Houses of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on a
l Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister motion made or are nominated by their presiding
and the longest serving so far. officers.
l Among the Standing Committees, three are
UNION LEGISLATURE financial Committees:
l The Legislature of the Union, which is called (i) Public Account Committee;
‘Parliament’ consists of the President and the (ii) Estimate Committee;
two Houses of Parliament known as the Council
(iii) Public undertaking Committee.
of states (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the
People (Lok Sabha). SPEAKER OF LOK SABHA
RAJYA SABHA l Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among
l The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the its members.
Parliament and it is constituted of representatives l The Speaker will have the final power to maintain
from the States or the Constituent units of the order within the House of the People and to
Indian Union. interpret its rules of procedure.
l It is a permanent body, one third of its members l A Deputy-Speaker is also elected to officiate in
retiring after every two years. absence of the Speaker.
l Its maximum strength is 250. Out of these, twelve l G.V. Mavlankar was the first Speaker of the Lok
members are nominated by the President from Sabha (1952-1956).
 39

SUPREME COURT COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL

l The Constitution provides for the Supreme Court, (CAG) (ARTICLE 148-151)
which consists of Chief Justice and 33 judges. l The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is
They are appointed by the President of India. guardian of the public purse.
l It is his duty to see that not a paisa is spent out
QUALIFICATION AND TENURE of consolidated fund of India or of a state without
l Eligibility conditions for a judge of the Supreme the authority of the appropriate legislature.
Court are that he must be : (i) a citizen of India; l He is appointed by President of India.
(ii) a judge of a high court for a minimum period
of 5 years; or (iii) an advocate of a high court for l A person with long administrative experience
at least ten years or a distinguished jurist. and knowledge of accounts is appointed.
l Judges hold office till the age of 65. l Holds office for 6 yrs or till 65 yrs of age.
l They can resign earlier or can be removed by the l The President can remove him only on the
President on the recommendation of the two recommendation of the 2 houses of Parliament
Houses of the Parliament by 2/3rd majority of (as in case of judge of Supreme Court).
the members present and voting. l The CAG submits its reports to the President (in
case of accounts relating to the Union
Powers Government) or to the State Governors (for State
l Original jurisdiction: Cases involving Government Accounts).
Government of India and the states or cases l The first CAG of India was V Narahari Rao
involving the enforcement of Fundamental (1948-1954).
Rights fall under original jurisdiction. l The CAG is not eligible for further office under
l Appellate Jurisdiction: In cases which are the Union or State Governments. The expenses
brought to it in the form of appeals against the of the office of the CAG is charged to the
judgement of the lower courts—It hears appeals Consolidated Fund of India.
in civil and criminal cases.
l Advisory functions: the Supreme Court advises ATTORNEY GENERAL OF INDIA
the President on the constitutionality of a l The Attorney General of India is the first law
particular legal matter. However, its advice is not officer of the Government of India.
binding on the President. l Though he is not a member of cabinet he has the
Other Powers: right to speak in the House of Parliament, but he
1. it is a court of record and can punish for has no right to vote.
contempt of itself; l The Attorney General of India shall be appointed
2. it can make rules for regulating the practice by the President and shall hold office during his
and procedure of courts with the approval of pleasure.
the President; and l His duty shall be to give advice on such legal
3. it can recommend to the President the removal matter from time-to-time as may be referred to
of chairman and members of the UPSC. him by the President.
Supreme Court enjoys the power of judicial l To be appointed as Attorney General, a candidate
review (right of the court which declares as must be qualified to be appointed as a Judge of
unconstitutional, the laws passed by the the Supreme Court.
legislature and orders issued by executive) l The Attorney General can participate in
though it is not specifically mentioned in the proceedings of the Parliament without the Right
Constitution. to Vote (Article 88).
l The first Chief Justice of India was H.J. Kania l The first Attorney General of Independent India
(1950-51). was MC Setalvad (1950-1963).
 40

PART - VI on the basis of adult suffrage and the number of

members shall not be more than 500 or less than
THE STATES (ARTICLE 152 - 237) 60.
T HE GOVERNOR l The assembly of Sikkim, Goa, Puducherry and
l The Governor is appointed by the President and Mizoram have less than 60 members.
holds office during the pleasure of the President. HIGH COURTS (ARTICLE 214-232)
l Apart from the power to appoint the council of l The High Court stands at the apex of the State
ministers, if the governor finds that the Judiciary.
government of state cannot be carried on in
l As per the Constitution, there shall be a High
accordance with the provisions of the constitution
Court in each State. But there may be a common
(Art. 356), he may send his report to the President
High Court for two or more States and Union
who may assume to himself the functions of the
Territory, if it is provided by a law of the
government of the state. (This is popularly known
Parliament. For example, the Chennai High Court
as ‘President’s Rule’). has its Jurisdiction over the State of Tamil Nadu
l Article 161 gives the Governor the power to and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
grant pardons, reprieves, remission of punishment
l The State Government has no control over it.
to persons convicted under the state law.
l There are 25 High Courts in India.
l Article 171 states that the States where
The Calcutta High Court, established in 1862, is
Legislative Councils exists, the Governor can
l

the oldest High Court in India.

nominate some members from amongst those
distinguished in literature, science, arts, THE PANCHAYATS (ARTICLE 243-243 O)
cooperative movement and social service.
l Panchayati Raj was introduced in India with a
STATES LEGISLATURE (ARTICLE 168 - 212) view to associate the people with administration
l The state legislature consists of Governor and at grass-root level.
legislative assembly. l It is a three-tier system as recommended by
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee.
l In some state like Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and l Introduced by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992
Telangana have a legislative council. which envisaged a three tier system of local
l The membership of the council should not be governance.
more than one-third of the legislative assembly These are:
but not less than 40. 1. Gram Panchayat at the village level
l The legislative assembly of each state shall be 2. Panchayat Samiti at the block level
composed of members chosen by direct election 3. Zila Parishad at the district level.

Jurisdiction and Seat of High Courts

Name Year Territorial Jurisdiction Seat
Allahabad 1866 Uttar Pradesh Prayagraj (Bench at Lucknow)
Bombay 1862 Maharashtra, Goa, Dadar Mumbai (Benches at Nagpur,
and Nagar Haveli and Panaji and Aurangabad)
Daman and Diu
Calcutta 1862 West Bengal and Kolkata (Circuit Bench at Port Blair)
Andaman & Nicobar
Chhattisgarh 2000 Chhattisgarh Bilaspur
 41 (137) G.K.—6

Name Year Territorial Jurisdiction Seat

Delhi 1966 Delhi Delhi
Guwahati 1948 Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram Guwahati (Benches at Kohima,
and Arunachal Pradesh Aizawl and Itanagar)
Gujarat 1960 Gujarat Ahmedabad
Himachal Pradesh 1971 Himachal Pradesh Shimla
Jammu & Kashmir 1928 Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh Srinagar and Jammu
Jharkhand 2000 Jharkhand Ranchi
Karnataka 1884 Karnataka Bengaluru (Circuit Benches at Dharwar and
Gulbarga)
Kerala 1958 Kerala & Lakshadweep Kochi (Ernakulam)
Madhya Pradesh 1956 Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur (Benches at Gwalior and Indore)
Madras 1862 Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Chennai (Bench at Madurai)
Orissa 1948 Odisha Cuttack
Patna 1916 Bihar Patna
Punjab and Haryana 1966 Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Chandigarh
Rajasthan 1949 Rajasthan Jodhpur (Bench at Jaipur)
Sikkim 1975 Sikkim Gangtok
Uttarakhand 2000 Uttarakhand Nainital
Tripura 2013 Tripura Agartala
Meghalaya 2013 Meghalaya Shillong
Manipur 2013 Manipur Imphal
Telangana 2019 Telangana Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh 2019 Andhra Pradesh Amravati

THE MUNICIPALITIES (ARTICLE 243 P-243 ZG) l Article 312: All India Services and Article 315:
l Big cities have municipal corporations headed Public Service Commissions for the Union and
by the elected Mayor. for the States.
l For small towns there are elected boards or l The first Public Service Commission was set up
councils, in turn, elect their Presidents. in 1926, on the recommendations of the Lee
l Introduced by the 74th Amendment Act, 1993 Commission.
which envisages three types of urban local bodies, UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
namely, municipality (nagar palika), city council (UPSC)
(nagar panchayat).
l This Commission is responsible for:
l Municipal governance in India was first
1. recruitment to all civil services and posts, under
introduced in Madras in 1688.
the Union Government by written
PART - XIII examinations, interviews and promotions, and
(ARTICLE 301 - 307) 2. advising the Government on all matters
l In this part from Article 301-307 trade, commerce relating to methods of recruitment, principles
and intercourse within the territory of India are to be followed in making promotions and
given. transfers. Its Chairman is appointed by the
PART - XIV President.

(ARTICLE 308 - 323) STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION (SSC)

l In this part services under the union and the l The Union Government has constituted a Staff
states are given. Selection Commission for recruitment to non-
 42

technical Class III posts in the central government l The Niti Aayog will comprise the following:
and in subordinate offices. 1. Prime Minister of India as the Chairperson.
l The Administrative Reforms Commission had 2. Governing Council comprising the Chief
recommended the setting up of such a Commission. Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors
l The Commission has also been entrusted with of Territories.
the responsibility of making recruitment to Group 3. Regional Councils will be formed to address
‘B’ services like Assistants’ and Stenographers specific issues and contingencies impacting
Grade ‘C’. more than one state or a region. These will be
l The Commission has a chairman and two formed for a specified tenure. The Regional
members. Councils will be convened by the Prime
Minister and will comprise of the Chief
ELECTIONS (ARTICLE 324-329) Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of
l The Constitution provides for an independent Territories in the region. These will be chaired
election commission to ensure free and fair by the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his
election to the Parliament, the State legislature nominee.
and the offices of President and Vice-President. 4. Experts, specialists and practitioners with
l Consists of Chief Election Commissioner +2 relevant domain knowledge as special invitees
Election Commissioners. They all enjoy equal nominated by the Prime Minister.
powers. l The full-time organizational framework will
l The Chief Election Commissioner and other comprise of, in addition to the Prime Minister as
Election Commissioners are appointed by the the Chairperson:
President. 1. Vice-Chairperson : To be appointed by the
l Election Commissioners are appointed for a term Prime Minister.
of 5 yrs. 2. Members : Full-time. : 3
l They are not eligible for re-appointment. Also, 3. Part-time members : Maximum of 2 from
they cannot hold any office of profit after their leading universities research organizations
retirement. and other relevant institutions in an ex-officio
l The Election Commission was established on capacity. Part time members will be on a
25th January, 1950 under Article 324 of the rotational basis.
Constitution. 4. Ex Officio members : Maximum of 4 members
l The first Chief Election Commissioner was of the Council of Ministers to be nominated
Sukumar Sen. by the Prime Minister.
5. Chief Executive Officer : To be appointed by
Functions the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, in the
l Preparation of electoral rolls and keeping voters rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
list updated. 6. Secretariat as deemed necessary.
l Recognition of various political parties and
FINANCE COMMISSION
allotment of election symbols.
l The constitution of the Finance Commission is
NITI AAYOG laid down in Art. 280.
l The Indian government has replaced Planing l The chairman must be a person having
Commission with a new institution named NITI experience in public affairs; and the other four
Aayog (National Institution for Transforming members also having wide experience in financial
India). matters.
 43

l It consists of Chairman and 4 other members. net proceeds of taxes that is required to be shared.
l It shall be the duty of the Finance Commission l The Finance Commission is not a permanent
to advice the President on matters such as the body. It is dissolved after it has submitted its
distribution between the Union and States of the recommendations.

Important Amendments to the Constitution

First Amendment, 1951 : Added Ninth Schedule.

Twenty-second Amendment, 1969 : Formation of Meghalaya within the state of Assam was facilitated.
Twenty-sixth Amendment, 1971 : The privy and privileges of the former rulers of Indian States
were abolished.
Thirty-first Amendment, 1973 : The upper limit of representation of states was raised from 500
to 525. The upper limit for representation of the UTs was reduced
from 25 to 20.
Thirty-sixth Amendment, 1975 : Sikkim was made a full-fledged state of Indian Union and it was
included in the First Schedule.
Thirty-eight Amendment, 1975 : This act led to the amendment of Article 123, Article 213 and
Article 352 which stated that the satisfaction of President or of
Governor contained in these Articles would be called in question
in any court of law.
Forty-second Amendment, 1976 : This amendment was done in accordance with the
recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee and included a
number of amendments.
Forty-third Amendment, 1977 : It provided for the restoration of the Jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court and High Courts, curtailed by the enactment of the
Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976.
Forty-fourth Amendment, 1978 : The right to property was deleted as Fundamental Right and was
made a legal right.
Fifty-third Amendment, 1986 : The Act grants statehood to the Union Territory of Mizoram, thus
making it the 23rd State of the Indian Unions.
Fifty-sixth Amendment, 1987 : The UT of Goa converted into Goa state through this amendment
whereas Daman and Diu were organised under a new UT.
Seventy-third Amendment, 1992 : It is concerning Panchayati Raj.
Seventy-fourth Amendment, 1992 : It is regarding Municipal Boards and Corporations.
Eighty-ninth Amendment, 2003 : It provides for constitution of a separate National Commission
for Scheduled Tribes. (Earlier, there was a combined National
Commission for both SC/STs).
Ninety-first Amendment, 2003 : It is regarding restricting the total number of Ministers including
Prime Minister/Chief Minister in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures
to 15% of the total number of the Union or State Legislatures.
Ninety-sixth Amendment, 2011 : Amendment of 8th Schedule, it replaces ‘Orissa’ with ‘Odisha’.
Ninety-eight Amendment, 2013 : (Insert Article 371 J) To empower the Governor of Karnataka to
take steps to develop Hydrabad Karnataka Region.
 44

Ninety-ninth Amendment, 2015 : The amendment is in toto quashed by Supreme Court on 16

October, 2015.
One hundredth Amendment, 2015 : Exchange of certain enclave territories with Bangladesh and
conferment of citizenship rights to residents of enclaves conse-
quent to signing of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) Treaty
between India and Bangladesh.
One hundredth and first : The act amends the Constitution to introduce “The Goods and
Amendment, 2016 Services Tax (GST).”
One hundredth and Third : The Act providing 10 per cent reservation in government jobs
Amendment, 2019 and educational institutions to Economically Weaker Sections
(EWS) of General Category, came into effect on January 14, 2019.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS
NATIONAL EMBLEM Dravida-Utkala-Banga
l State emblem of India is an adaptation from the Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. It was adopted Uchhala-jaladhi-taranga.
by the Government of India on January 26, 1950. Tava subha name jage,
In the adapted form, only three lions are visible, Tava subha asisa mange,
the fourth being hidden from the view. Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayak,
l The wheel (Dharma Chakra) appears in relief in
jaya he Bharata bhagya vidhata,
the centre of the abacus with a bull on the right
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
and a horse on the left.
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he.
l The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The
words ‘‘Satyameva Jayate’’ meaning ‘‘Truth alone NATIONAL SONG
triumphs’’ are inscribed below the Emblem in l Bankim Chandra Chatterji’s ‘Vande Mataram’
Devanagari script. which was a source of inspiration to the people
in their struggle for freedom, has been adopted
NATIONAL FLAG as National Song. It has an equal status with the
l The National Flag of India is a horizontal National Anthem.
tricolour of deep saffron (Kesari), white and dark Vande Mataram
green in equal proportion. Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja-shitalam,
l In the centre of the white band there is a wheel Shasya shyamalam, Mataram
in navy blue colour. It has 24 spokes. Shubhrajyotsna, pulkita yaminim,
l The ratio of the length and the breadth of the Phulla kusumita drumadalashobhinim,
flag is 3 : 2. Its design was adopted by the Subhasinim sumadhura—bhashinim,
Constituent Assembly of India on July 22, 1947. Sukhadam, Varadam, Mataram.
l National Bird and Animal of India: Peacock
NATIONAL ANTHEM
and Tiger.
l Rabindranath Tagore’s song ‘Jana-gana-mana’
l National Aquatic Animal: Dolphin
was adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the
National Anthem of India on January 24, 1950. l National Flower: Lotus
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he, l National Calendar: It was adopted on March
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata 22, 1957. It has 365 days in the year and the first
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha- month of the year is Chaitra.
p p p
 45

GENERAL SCIENCE
PHYSICS
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES l Very small distances are measured in micro-meters
l Physical quantities may be divided in two classes: or (microns) (µm), angstroms (Å), nanometers (nm)
1. Scalar Quantities 2. Vector Quantities and femtometres (fm).
l A scalar quantity is one which has only
MOTION
magnitude.
l When a body changes its position with respect
l A vector quantity has both magnitude and
to something else as time goes on, we say the
direction.
body is in motion.
l Force, Velocity, Momentum, Acceleration are
l There are two types of motion—translational
examples of vector quantities.
(linear) and rotational (spin).
l Mass, length, time, volume, speed, energy, work
are examples of scalar quantities. l The motion of a car on a road is translational
whereas the motion of a top, spinning on its axis
UNITS is rotational.
l All measurements in physics require standard
units. SPEED
l In 1960, the General Conference of Weights and l It is a scalar form of velocity and is defined as
Measures recommended that a metric system of the distance travelled in one second.
measurements called the International System of distance travelled
Units, abbreviated as SI units, be used. l Speed =
time required
Some Important Units l SI unit of speed is m/s.
S.No. Units Quantity
VELOCITY
1. Metre Length
l The distance covered by an object in a specified
2. Kilogram Mass
direction in unit time interval is called velocity.
3. Second Time
4. Ampere Electric Current l The SI unit of velocity is m/s.
5. Candela Luminous Intensity l Velocity is a vector quantity.
6. Newton Force
7. Joule Workdone ACCELERATION
8. Watt Power l The velocity of a body changes due to change
9. Coulomb Electric Charge in its speed or direction or both. The rate of
10. Volt Potential Difference change of the velocity of a body is called its
11. Ohm Electrical Resistance acceleration.
12. Farad Capacitance
13. Henry Inductance change in velocity
l Acceleration =
14. Lumen Luminous Flux time taken
45
 46

The weight of a body is maximum at the poles

FORCE AND MOTION l

and minimum at the equator. This variation in

GRAVITATIONAL FORCE weight is due to:
l It is the force of attraction between two masses. 1. the shape of the earth.
l It is gravitational force that holds the moon in its 2. the rotation of the earth about its axis.
orbit round the earth and the earth in its orbit l The weight of an object is less at high elevations
round the sun. than at sea level.
l Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation states l At the centre of the earth, the weight of a body
that every particle in the universe attracts every would be zero.
other particle with a force that is directly l On the surface of the moon the value of the
proportional to the product of their masses and acceleration due to gravity is nearly one-sixth of
inversely proportional to the square of the that on earth and, therefore, an object on the
distance between them. moon would weigh only one-sixth its weight on
l The value of G is 6.67 × 10–11 SI units. the earth. The mass of an object on the moon
would be the same as on earth.
CENTRIPETAL FORCE
l The weight of a body would be more if the earth
l The force acting towards the centre on a particle
stopped rotating. Conversely, if the speed of
executing uniform circular motion is called
centripetal force and is given by rotation were higher, the weight would be less.
l A person weighs more in a lift, which is
mv 2 accelerating upward.
F=
r
l An astronaut feels weightless in a spaceship
where, m = Mass of the object
because he is not pushing against anything.
v = Speed
r = Radius of the Circular Path FRICTION
l In case of the moon, gravitational force between l Friction is the force which opposes the relative
the earth and the moon acts as the centripetal motion of two surfaces in contact.
force. l It is friction between the ground and the soles of
l Centripetal force always acts on the particle our shoes that makes walking possible and it is
performing circular motion. lack of friction that makes our feet slip on highly
polished surfaces.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
l Friction in machines wastes energy and also
l The pseudo force that balances the centripetal causes wear and tear. This friction is reduced by
force in uniform circular motion is called using (1) lubricants, and (2) ball bearings.
centrifugal force.
l Centrifugal force is directed away from the centre NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION
along the radius.
First Law
l The centrifugal force is zero exactly at the poles
and maximum at the equator. l Every object continues in its state of rest or of
uniform motion in a straight line if no net force
WEIGHT acts upon it. It is also known as law of inertia.
l The weight of a body is the force with which the l Examples: 1. An unwary passenger in a fast-
earth attracts the body towards its centre. moving bus falls forward when it stops suddenly.
l The mass of a body is a constant quantity whereas This happens because the feet of the passenger
its weight varies slightly from place-to-place on come to rest suddenly whereas his upper part of
the earth. body continues to be in motion. 2. A person
 47

getting down from a moving bus has to run some Application of Impulse
distance, in the direction of the bus, before 1. A cricket player draws his hand back while
stopping. If he does not run he is bound to fall catching.
because his feet come to rest whereas his body
2. A person jumping on hard cement floor
continues to be in motion.
receives more injuries than a person jumping
Momentum on muddy or sandy floor.
The momentum of a body is defined as the
WORK, POWER AND ENERGY
l

product of its mass and velocity.

Second Law WORK
l Whenever a force acting on a body displaces it,
l This law states that “the rate of change of
work is said to be done.
momentum of a body is proportional to the
applied force and takes place in the direction of Work = Force × Distance moved in the direction
the force.” of force.
l Work is a scalar quantity and its SI unit is
l If we express force (F) in Newtons, mass (m) in
Joule (J).
kilograms and acceleration (a) in metres per
second squared, we can write the second law as; POWER
F = ma. l Power is defined as the rate of doing work.
l In travelling the same distance, a car consumes
Work done
more fuel on a crowded road than on a free road. Power =
This happens because the car has to stop and Time taken
start quite often on a crowded road. The repeated l The SI unit of power is Watt (W) and is also
acceleration requires a force (second law), which measured in horse power.
ultimately comes from the fuel. On a free road 1 HP = 746 W
the car runs at almost uniform speed requiring
fewer accelerations and hence less fuel ENERGY
consumption. l Energy is defined as the capacity to do work.

Third Law Kinetic Energy

l This law states that “to every action there is an l The energy possessed by an object due to its
equal and opposite reaction.” motion is called kinetic energy and is described
by the expression
l When a bullet is fired from a gun, equal and
opposite forces are exerted on the bullet and the 1 2
KE = mv ; where, m = mass of the object
gun. 2
l The engine in a jet aeroplane works on the same v = speed
principle as a rocket but there is a difference in
the method of obtaining the high velocity as jet. Potential Energy
l Potential energy is the energy possessed by the
IMPULSE body by virtue of its position, configuration or
l If a force acts on a body for a very short time, any condition of stress or strain.
then the product of force and time is called the l There are many examples of potential energy. A
impulse. stone held at some height above the ground has
Impulse= Change in momentum potential energy. Water in an elevated reservoir
= Force × Time possesses potential energy.
 48

Transformation of Energy DENSITY AND RELATIVE DENSITY

S.No. Equipment Transformation DENSITY
1. Dynamo Mechanical energy into l The mass per unit volume of a substance is called
electrical energy its density.
2. Microphone Sound energy into
electrical energy Mass
Density =
3. Loud Speaker Electrical energy into Volume
sound energy
l The SI unit of density is kilogram per metre
4. Electric Bulb Electrical energy into cubed (kg/m3).
light and heat energy
l The relative density of a substance is the ratio of
5. Battery Chemical energy into
electrical energy the density of the substance to the density of
6. Electrical Motor Electrical energy into
water.
mechanical energy l Relative density has no unit.

CENTRE OF GRAVITY PRESSURE

l The centre of gravity of a body is the point l Pressure is defined as force acting per unit area.
where the whole weight of the body can be Force
considered to act. Pressure =
Area
l Racing cars are build low and with wide wheel
bases to reduce the risk of overturning at sharp l The SI unit of pressure is newton per metre
bends. squared or pascal.
l While crossing a river in a boat, passengers are l Broad wooden sleepers are placed below the rails
not allowed to stand. This keeps the CG of the to reduce the pressure exerted by the weight of
system (boat and passengers) low and ensures a train.
stability. l The pressure of water increases with depth,
therefore bottom of a dam is made much thicken
ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES than the top.
l In the case of a satellite, the centripetal force l The pressure exerted on an enclosed liquid at
is provided by the gravitational pull of the one place is transmitted equally throughout the
earth. liquid. This is called Pascal’s Principle.
l If the speed of a satellite is more than 11.2 km/s l Hydraulic presses, hydraulic brakes, hydraulic
or 25,000 miles/hour, the satellite would escape door closers, etc. are applications of the Pascal’s
the earth entirely and would never come back. Principle.
This is called escape velocity. l At high attitudes where atmosphere pressure is
l The existence of gaseous atmosphere on the earth less nose bleeding may occur due to the greater
is due to the high value of its escape velocity. pressure of blood.
Geostationary Satellites l In an aircraft flying at high altitude, normal
atmospheric pressure is maintained by the use of
l Geostationary satellites are stationary with respect
air pumps. If this were not done, the crew and
to an observer on the earth. Their time period is
passengers would experience difficulty in
24-hour. There height above the surface of earth
breathing and consequently face dangers.
is 36,000 km. They are always in equatorial plane
and their orbits are circular. They are also called l Atmospheric pressure is measured with an
parking orbits. instrument called the Barometer.
 49 (137) G.K.—7

ARCHIMEDE’S PRINCIPLE have minimum surface area. For a given volume,

l This principle states that when a body is wholly a sphere has the minimum surface area.
or partially immersed in a fluid, it experiences an l Soaps and detergents lower the surface tension
upthrust (upward force) equal to the weight of of water. This increases the wetting power of
the fluid displaced. water or its ability to detach dirt particles from
l An iron nail sinks in water whereas a ship made clothes and untensils.
of iron and steel floats. This is due to the fact l The force of attraction between unlike molecules
that a ship is hollow and contains air and, is called adhesion and that between like
therefore, its density is less than that of water. molecules cohesion.
l The density of sea water is more than that of l The melted wax of a candle is drawn up into the
river water, due to this a ship sinks less in sea wick by capillary action. Oil rises up a lamp
water. It is for this reason that a ship rises a little wick for the same reason.
when it enters a sea from a river. l If one end of a sugar cube is dipped into tea, the
l It is because of the higher density of sea water entire cube is quickly wet on account of capillary
that it is easier to swim in the sea. action.
l A balloon filled with a light gas, such as VISCOSITY
hydrogen, rises because the average density of
l The force which opposes the relative motion
the balloon and the gas is less than that of air.
between different layers of liquid or gases is
The balloon cannot rise indefinitely because the
called viscous force.
density of the air decreases with increasing
altitude. At a certain height, where the density of l Viscosity is the property of liquids and gases
air is equal to the average density of the balloon, both.
it ceases to rise and drifts sideways with the BERNOULLI’S THEOREM
wind.
l According to Bernoulli’s theorem, in case of
l When an ice block floats in water the water level streamline flow of incompressible and non-
will remain the same when all the ice melts into viscous fluid (ideal fluid) through a tube, total
water. energy (sum of pressure energy, potential energy
l A hydrometer is an instrument used for measuring and kinetic energy) per unit volume of fluid is
the relative density of liquids. same at all points.
l A special type of a hydrometer called Lactometer 1. When a bowler spins a ball, it changes its
is used for testing milk by measuring its density. direction (swings) in the air due to unequal
pressure acting on it.
SURFACE TENSION
l Surface tension is that property of liquids owing HEAT
to which they tend to acquire minimum surface
area. l Heat is that form of energy which flows from one
l Surface tension is caused by molecular attractions. body to other body due to difference in
temperature between the bodies. The amount of
l When a paint brush is dipped in water all its hair heat contained in a body depends upon the mass
spread out but when it is taken out it is covered of the body.
with a thin film of water which contracts due to
surface tension and pulls the hair together. TEMPERATURE
l Liquid drops, such as raindrops, oildrops, drops l The temperature of a body is the quantity that
of molten metals, dewdrops etc. are all spherical tells how hot or cold it is with respect to some
because their surface tend to contract in order to standard body.
 50 (137) G.K.—7-II

MEASUREMENT OF TEMPERATURE l Air is a very bad conductor of heat. The good

l Temperature is measured by a thermometer. insulating properties of wool, cotton, etc. are
l A thermometer may be graduated in following mainly due to the air spaces they contain.
scales— Convection
1. The upper and lower points of centigrade scale
l In this process, heat is transferred by the actual
are 100°C and 0°C.
movement of particles of the medium from one
2. The upper and lower points of Fahrenheit scale place to other place.
are 212°F and 32°F.
l In liquids and gases heat is transmitted by
3. The upper and lower points of Reaumur scale
convection.
are 80°R and 0°R.
4. The upper and lower points of Kelvin scale Radiation
are 373K and 273K. l In this mode of heat transmission heat is
5. The upper and lower points of Rankine scale transferred from one place to another without
are 672° Ra and 460° Ra. effecting the intervening medium.
l At –40 degrees both celsius and Fahrenheit scales
will show identical readings. HEAT CAPACITY
l Water cannot be used in a thermometer becaues l The heat capacity of a body is defined as the
it freezes at 0°C and also because of its irregular heat required to raise the temperature of the body
expansion. by 1K. Its SI unit is J/K.

THERMAL EXPANSION SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

l Solids, liquids and gases generally expand when l The specific heat capacity of a substance is the
heated and contract when cooled. heat required to raise the temperature of a unit
l Gaps have to be left in railway tracks to make mass of the substance by 1K.
allowance for expansion, otherwise the rails will l Its SI unit is J/kg K.
buckle. Allowance is made for the expansion of l It is because of its high specific heat capacity
long steel bridges. One end of such bridge is that water is used as a cooling liquid in car
fixed while the other rests on rollers. engine.
l Telephone wires sag more in summer than in
winter due to thermal expansion. LATENT HEAT
l It is defined as the amount of heat absorbed or
EXPANSION OF WATER given out by a body during the change of state.
l Water has its minimum volume and maximum l Each gram of ice that melts absorbs 336 J of
density at 4°C. heat.
TRANSMISSION OF HEAT EVAPORATION
l There are three ways of heat transmission: l Water can change into the vapour state either by
1. Conduction; 2. Convection; 3. Radiation. boiling or by evaporation at lower temperatures.
Conduction l When sweat evaporates from the skin it draws
l In this process, heat is transferred from one place much heat from the body and produces a cooling
to other place by the successive vibration of the sensation.
particles of the medium without bodily l In summer, water is stored in pitchers for cooling.
movement of the particles of the medium. Water oozes out of the pores of the pitchers and
l Conduction takes place mainly in solids. cools on evaporation.
 51

l The rate of evaporation increases with increase ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE

in temperature. l Electromagnetic waves include an enormous
range of frequencies—from radio waves with
REFRIGERATOR
frequencies less than 105 Hz to gamma rays
l In a refrigerator, cooling is produced by the having frequencies greater than 1020 Hz.
evaporation of a volatile liquid, freon, inside a
l All electromagnetic wave have the same speed
copper coil (evaporator), which surrounds the
(3 × 108 m/s) in vacuum. The relation v = nl
freezer.
holds good for all electromagnetic waves.
l The cooling unit (freezer) in a refrigerator is
fitted near the top to cool the whole of the interior. RADIO AND TELEVISION TRANSMISSION
l Radio waves sent out by radio stations are
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
reflected by the ionosphere and can be received
Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the
anywhere on the earth.
l

mass of water vapour in a given volume of air to

the mass required for saturating the same volume l At night the radio reception improves because
of air at the same temperature. the layers of the ionosphere are not exposed to
sunlight and are more settled.
l Relative humidity is measured with an instrument
called the hygrometer. l Radar (Radio detection and ranging) employs
high frequency radio waves for detecting objects
PRESSURE COOKER like ships and aeroplanes.
l The boiling point of a liquid depends on external l In microwave oven, when the waves fall on the
pressure. food, these are absorbed by water, fats, sugars
l When the atmospheric pressure is 76 cm of and certain other molecules whose consequent
mercury, water boils at 100°C. But when the vibrations produce heat. Since heating occurs
pressure is increased, the boiling point of water inside the food, without warming the surrounding
is raised. air, the cooking time is greatly reduced.
l In a pressure cooker, water boils at temperatures l In microwave oven, food cannot be cooked in
higher than 100°C due to increased pressure. metal vessels because the metal blocks out the
The increased boiling temperature allows water microwaves.
to hold more heat which cooks food faster.
l At higher altitudes, atmospheric pressure is LIGHT
reduced. This lowers the boiling point of water l Light is a form of energy which is propagated as
and food takes much longer to cook. electromagnetic waves.
Light is a transverse wave.
WAVE MOTION l

l Speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 108 m/s.

l Wave motion may be defined as the transfer of l Light takes 8 minute 16.6 second to reach from
energy without the net transfer of matter. sun to earth.
l If the particles of the medium vibrate
perpendicular to the direction of propagation of REFLECTION
wave, the wave is called transverse wave. l When light is incident upon a surface, part of it
l Light waves are transverse waves. is reflected. But certain surfaces like mirrors and
l If the particles of the medium vibrate in the polished metals reflect almost all the light
direction of propagation of wave, the wave is incident upon them.
called longitudinal wave. l The law of reflection states that the angle of
l Sound waves are longitudinal waves. incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
 52

l To see full image in a plane mirror, a person l When the sun (or moon) is near the horizon, it
requires a mirror of at least half of his height. appears elliptical, i.e., with the vertical diameter
less than the horizontal diameter. This happens
INCLINED MIRROR (NO. OF IMAGES)
because rays from the lower edge of the sun are
l When an object is placed between two inclined bent more than those from the upper edge
mirrors, several images of the object are formed. (Atmospheric Refraction).
CURVED MIRRORS l One of the most interesting effects of atmospheric
l There are two types of curved spherical mirrors— refraction and Mirage is a combined effect of
1. Concave Mirror, 2. Convex Mirror. atmospheric refraction and total internal
l Concave mirror can concentrate the sun’s reflection.
radiation falling on it at one point, it can be used DISPERSION
as a burning glass.
l White light consists of seven colours—violet,
l Concave mirrors are also used in solar cookers. indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. These
l Large concave mirrors are used in reflecting colours are called the spectrum of the white light.
telescopes for observing and photographing l Violet has the minimum wavelength (or maximum
distant stars and other heavenly bodies. frequency) and red the maximum wavelength (or
l Concave mirror is also used as a shaving or minimum frequency).
make-up mirror.
l Due to different speeds, the colours are refracted
l Small concave mirrors are used by dentists for through different angles and therefore, when a
examining teeth. narrow beam of white light passes through a
l Concave parabolic mirrors are used in searchlight glass prism, it is split up into its constituent
and headlamps of cars. colours. This separation of light into colours is
l Convex mirrors are also used as rear view mirrors called dispersion.
in vehicles.
COLOUR OF OBJECTS
REFRACTION l We see objects because of the light they reflect.
l When a ray of light passes from one medium to l When a rose is viewed in white light, its petals
other it suffers a change in direction at the appear red and the leaves appear green, because
boundary of separation of two media. This the petals reflect the red part of the white light
phenomenon is called refraction. and leaves reflect the green part. The remaining
l When a ray passes from one medium to another colours are absorbed. When the same rose is
optically denser medium, e.g., from air to water viewed in green light, the petals will appear
or glass, it bends towards the normal. Conversely, black and the leaves green. In blue or yellow
a ray passing from water or glass into air is bent light both the petals and leaves will appear black.
away from the normal.
l Red, blue and green are primary colours.
l Rivers appear shallow, coin in a beaker filled
with water appears raised, due to refraction. LENSES
l Another effect of refraction is the apparent upward l There are mainly two types of lenses:
bending of the immersed portion of a stick when 1. Convex or Converging Lens
dipped in water.
2. Concave or Diverging Lens
l It is due to refraction, produced by the earth’s
l Converging or convex lens is used as a
atmosphere, that the sun is visible for several
magnifying glass.
minutes after it has set below the horizon. Thus,
atmospheric refraction tends to lengthen the day. l Power of a lens is its capacity to deviate a ray.
 53

Power of a lens is measured as the reciprocal of l Scattering of light is maximum for violet colour
the focal length. and minimum for red colour.
1 l Blue colour of sky is due to scattering of light.
P= In the evening, the sun is lower in the sky and
f l

l SI unit of power of lens is dioptre (D). its light has to traverse a longer path through the
atmosphere to reach an observer. Thus, at sunset,
l The power of a converging lens is positive and
blue, green and other colours having been
that of a diverging lens is negative.
scattered only red and some orange light reach
l For all positions of the object, the images formed
us and the sun appears a deep orange-red.
by diverging (concave) lens are virtual, erect and
diminished. l In outerspace, i.e., beyond the atmosphere, there
is nothing to scatter the sunlight and therefore
EYE the sky appears dark and stars are visible even in
l The light entering the eye is focused by the eye- the presence of the sun.
lens to form an image on the retina.
INTERFERENCE OF LIGHT
l In front of the eye, lens is the coloured part of
eye, called the iris, which automatically adjusts l The superposition of two (or more) waves of the
the size of the pupil to the intensity of light same kind that pass the same point in space at
falling on it. the same time is called interference.
l In bright light the iris automatically shuts tighter, l Beautiful colours seen in soap bubbles and oil
reducing the amount of light entering the pupil. films on water are produced due to the
This protects the retina from getting damaged. interference of white light reflected by these
l When a person enters a dark room after being in surfaces.
bright light, he is not able to see clearly for a l LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated
while because the iris is unable to dilate the Emission of Radiation) is an optical device which
pupil immediately. produces an intense beam of coherent
l Least distance of distinct vision is 25 cm. monochromatic light.
l Examples of Interference of Light: Holography,
DEFECTS OF VISION Laser.
l A person suffering from long sight (hyper-
metropia) can clearly see objects at infinity but DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT
cannot see near objects clearly. This defect is l When a beam of light passes through a narrow
caused by the eyeball being too short and can be slit or an aperture, it spreads out to a certain
corrected by wearing converging lenses. extent into the region of geometrical shadow.
l In the case of a person suffering from short sight This is an example of diffraction, i.e., of the
(myopia), the eye ball is too long and distant failure of light to travel in a straight line.
objects are focused in front of the retina. This
defect can be corrected by wearing diverging SOUND
lenses.
l Sound waves are longitudinal and cannot travel
l Astigmatism: Curvature of cornea becomes in vacuum. The transmission of sound requires a
irregular and image is not clear. Cylindrical lens medium : air, liquid or solid.
is used.
l The longitudinal mechanical waves which lie in
SCATTERING OF LIGHT the frequency range 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz are
l When light falls on atoms and molecules, it is called audible or sound waves. These waves are
scattered in all directions. sensitive to human ear.
 54

l The longitudinal mechanical waves having of objects on their way and from them
frequencies less than 20 Hz are called Infrasonic. respectively.
These waves are produced by sources of bigger
size such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, DOPPLER EFFECT
ocean waves etc. l The Doppler effect is the change in frequency of
l The longitudinal waves having frequencies a wave (sound or light) due to the motion of the
greater than 20,000 Hz are called ultrasonic source or observer.
waves. Human ear cannot detect these waves. l It is due to the Doppler effect that the whistle of
But some animals such as cats, dogs, bats can a train appears shriller when it approaches a
detect these waves. listener than when it moves away from him.
PITCH ELECTRICITY
l The pitch (shrillness of a sound) depends on its
frequency. l Electricity produced by friction between two
l A sound of higher frequency has a higher pitch. dissimilar objects is known as static electricity.
Depending on the nature of the objects, one
l The pitch of a woman’s voice is higher than that
acquires a positive charge and the other an equal
of a man.
negative charge. For example, if a glass rod is
LOUDNESS rubbed with silk, the rod acquires positive charge
l The relative loudness of a sound is measured in and the silk an equal negative charge.
decibels (db). l Lightning is a gigantic electric discharge
l All stringed instruments, such as the violin, sitar, occurring between two charged clouds or
guitar, etc. have sound boxes attached to increase between a charged cloud and the earth.
the loudness.
CONDUCTOR
SPEED OF SOUND l Conductors are those materials which allow
l The presence of water vapour in the air increases electricity (charge) to pass through themselves.
the speed of sound. l Metals conduct electricity because they have a
l Sound travels faster through warm air than large number of conduction or free electrons.
through cold air. The speed of sound is higher
INSULATORS
on a hot day than on a cold day.
l Thunder is heard much after the flash of lightning l Insulators are those materials which do not allow
is seen because of the wide difference in the electricity to flow through themselves. Insulators
speeds of light and sound. have no free electrons.

REFLECTION OF SOUND SUPER CONDUCTORS

l When a sound wave is reflected by a distant l The resistance of metals to flow of electricity
obstacle, such as a wall or a cliff, an echo is heard. reduces with decreasing temperature. At
temperatures near absolute zero, metals have
l To hear echo, the minimum distance between the
almost zero resistance and became super
observer and reflector should be 17 m.
conductors.
l Exploration of underwater gas and oil is done by
detecting the echoes of shock waves produced SEMI-CONDUCTORS
by explosions on the water surface. l Certain materials, such as silicon and germanium,
l Bats emit ultrasonic waves of frequencies up to have electrical resistivity intermediate between
80,000 Hz and use the reflection of these waves those of conductors and insulators. These
(echoes) to determine the presence and distance materials are termed as semi-conductors.
 55

l Semi-conductors are good insulators in their pure COST OF ELECTRICITY

crystalline form but their conductivity increases l The consumption of electrical energy in a house
when small amounts of impurities are added to is measured in the unit kWh.
them. l Kilowatt hour is equal to the energy consumed
ELECTRIC CURRENT in the circuit at the rate of 1 kilowatt for 1 hour.
Electric current is simply the flow of electric
MAGNETISM
l

charge. In solid conductors the flow of electrons

and in fluids the flow of ions as well as electrons l A magnet attracts and holds pieces of iron but
constitute the current. does not attract pieces of copper.
l SI units of electric current is Ampere (A). l Iron, cobalt, nickel and certain alloys are strongly
magnetic whereas copper, wood, glass, etc. are
ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE
non-magnetic.
l When electric current flows through a conductor,
l Our earth behaves as a powerful magnet whose
e.g., a metallic wire, it offers some obstruction to
the current. This obstruction offered by the wire south pole is near the geographical north pole
is called its electrical resistance. and whose north pole is near the geographical
south pole.
l SI unit of Resistance is ohm.
OHM’S LAW ATOMIC & NUCLEAR PHYSICS
l If physical conditions like temperature, intensity l Atom consists of three fundamental particles
of light etc. remains unchanged then electric electron, proton and neutron. All the protons and
current flowing through a conductor is directly neutrons are present in the central core of atom
proportional to the potential difference across its called nucleus. Electrons revolve around the nucleus.
ends.
l The total number of protons in the nucleus is
ELECTRIC MOTOR called atomic number (Z).
l In an electric motor, electrical energy is converted l The total number of proton and neutrons in the
into mechanical energy. nucleus is called mass number (A).
l Electric fans, mixers, washing machines, etc. work l Ernest Rutherford, discovered nucleus by the
on electric motors. scattering of a-particles from gold foil.
RADIOACTIVITY
INVERTER
l Henry Bacquerel (1896) observed that a
l An inverter is a device which converts DC to
photographic plate blackened, when placed near
AC. The inverters used in homes and offices are
double sulphate of potassium and uranium. He
specially designed to:
further observed that uranium emitted special
1. Convert DC from a battery to AC, and
kind of rays. They were called Becqueral rays.
2. Charge the battery.
l Pierre and Marie Curie observed that the radiation
FUSE from pitchblende was four times stronger than
l Electric fuse is a protective device used in series uranium. In 1898, they finally discovered two
with an electric appliance to save it from being new substances—Polonium and Radium. These
damaged due to high current. newly discovered substances were called
l A fuse is a short piece of wire made of a tin-lead radioactive substances and this property of these
alloy, which has a low melting point. substances was named radioactivity.
l Fuses are always connected in the live wire in l No radioactive substance emits both a and b
series. particles simultaneously.
 56

X-RAYS seven nuclear power stations in operation in six

l X-rays are electromagnetic radiations having States: (i) Tarapur—Maharashtra, (ii) Rawatbhata
wavelength from a fraction of an Angestrom to —Rajasthan, (iii) Kalpakkam—Tamil Nadu,
about 100Å. They were discovered by Rontgen (iv) Narora—U.P., (v) Kakrapara—Gujarat,
during his studies on the electrical discharge (vi) Kaiga—Karnataka and (vii) Kudankulam—
phenomena in gases—he found that an unknown Tamil Nadu.
radiation was produced when electrons collided l Heavy Water: Heavy water is one of the essential
with the walls of the tubes. input for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
(PHWRs) used both as a coolant and moderator.
ATOMIC ENERGY The first heavy water plant was set-up in 1962 in
l India today ranks sixth in the atomic energy Nangal. Subsequently 7 more plants have been
programmes. It has developed the required know- set-up at (i) Baroda, (ii) Tuticorin, (iii) Kota, (iv)
how and expertise to manufacture nuclear Talcher, (v) Thal, (vi) Hazira and (vii) Manuguru.
weapons, but it believes in the peaceful uses of
l Research and Development Centres: Four
atomic power. The Atomic Energy Commission
research centres namely (i) Bhabha Atomic
was set-up in the country in 1948 under the
Research Centre, Trombay (Maharashtra), (ii)
Chairmanship of Dr. H. J. Bhabha.
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research,
l Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC): The Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), (iii) Centre for
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay near Advanced Technology, Indore (Madhya Pradesh),
Mumbai (Maharashtra) has four research reactors: (iv) Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre at Kolkata
(i) APSARA—It is the first atomic reactor in (West Bengal) are focal points of research and
Asia; (ii) CIRUS—It is a joint Indo-Canadian development work in nuclear energy and related
project; (iii) PURNIMA II—a zero energy fast discipline.
reactor, and (iv) DHRUVA—a high power
completely indigenous nuclear research reactor l India’s Nuclear Explosions: On May 18, 1974
with most advanced laboratories in the world. India conducted her first underground nuclear
Another fast breeder reactor KAMINI at explosion at Pokhran (Rajasthan) in the Thar
Kalpakkam has been constructed. Today India is desert, 20 km. away from Jaisalmer, at a depth of
the seventh country in the world and the first more than 100 metres. The successful explosion
developing nation to have mastered the fast made India the sixth nuclear nation in the world.
breeder reactor technology. l India conducted 5 nuclear explosion tests at
l Nuclear Power: Under Nuclear Power Pokhran in two phases on May 11 and May 13,
Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) there are 1998 and became a nuclear power state.

IMPORTANT INVENTIONS
Name of Invention Inventor Nationality Year
Aeroplane Orville & Wilbur Wright U.S.A. 1903
Ball-Point Pen John J. Loud U.S.A. 1888
Barometer Evangelista Torricelli Italy 1644
Bicycle Kirkpatrick Macmillan Britain 1839-40
Bifocal Lens Benjamin Franklin U.S.A. 1780
Car (Petrol) Karl Benz Germany 1888
Celluloid Alexander Parkes Britain 1861
Cinema Nicolas & Jean Lumiere France 1895
 57 (137) G.K.—8

Name of Invention Inventor Nationality Year

Clock (mechanical) I-Hsing & Liang Ling-Tsan China 1725
Diesel Engine Rudolf Diesel Germany 1895
Dynamo Hypolite Pixii France 1832
Electric Lamp Thomas Alva Edison U.S.A. 1879
Electric Motor (DC) Zenobe Gramme Belgium 1873
Electric Motor (AC) Nikola Tesla U.S.A. 1888
Electro-magnet William Sturgeon Britain 1824
Electronic Computer Dr. Alan M. Turing Britain 1943
Film (moving outlines) Louis Prince France 1885
Film (musical sound) Dr. Le de Forest U.S.A. 1923
Fountain Pen Lewis E. Waterman U.S.A. 1884
Gramophone Thomas Alva Edison U.S.A. 1878
Helicopter Etienne Oehmichen France 1924
Jet Engine Sir Frank Whittle Britain 1937
Laser Charles H. Townes U.S.A. 1960
Lift (Mechanical) Elisha G. Otis U.S.A. 1852
Locomotive Richard Trevithick Britain 1804
Machine Gun James Puckle Britain 1718
Microphone Alexander Graham Bell U.S.A. 1876
Microscope Z. Janssen Netherlands 1590
Motor Cycle G. Daimler Germany 1885
Photography (on film) John Carbutt U.S.A. 1888
Printing Press Johann Gutenberg Germany c.1455
Razor (safety) King C. Gillette U.S.A. 1895
Refrigerator James Harrison & Alexander Catlin U.S.A. 1850
Safety Pin Walter Hunt U.S.A. 1849
Sewing machine Barthelemy Thimmonnier France 1829
Ship (steam) J.C. Perier France 1775
Ship (turbine) Hon. Sir C. Parsons Britain 1894
Skyscraper W. Le Baron Jenny U.S.A. 1882
Slide Rule William Oughtred Britain 1621
Steam Engine (condenser) James Watt Britain 1765
Steel Production Henry Bessemer Britain 1855
Steel (stainless) Harry Brearley Britain 1913
Submarine David Bushnell U.S.A. 1776
Tank Sir Ernest Swinton Britain 1914
Telegraph M. Lammond France 1787
Telegraph Code Samuel F.B. Morse U.S.A. 1837
Telephone (perfected) Alexander Graham Bell U.S.A. 1876
Television (mechanical) John Logie Baird Britain 1926
Television (electronic) P.T. Farnsworth U.S.A. 1927
Thermometer Galileo Galilei Italy 1593
Transformer Michael Faraday Britain 1831
Transistor Bardeen, Shockley & Brattain U.S.A. 1948
Washing Machine (elec.) Hurley Machine Co. U.S.A. 1907
Zip-Fastener W.L. Judson U.S.A. 1891
 58

Important Discoveries
Discovery Discoverer Nationality Year

Aluminium Hans Christian Oerstedt Denmark 1827

Atomic number Henry Moseley England 1913
Atomic structure of matter John Dalton England 1803
Chlorine C.W. Scheele Sweden 1774
Electromagnetic induction Michael Faraday England 1831
Electromagnetic waves Heinrich Hertz Germany 1886
Electromagnetism Hans Christian Oersted Denmark 1920
Electron Sir Joseph Thomson England 1897
General theory of relativity Albert Einstein Switzerland 1915
Hydrogen Henry Cavendish England 1766
Law of electric conduction Georg Ohm Germany 1827
Law of electromagnetism Andre Ampere France 1826
Law of falling bodies Galileo Italy 1590
Laws of gravitation & motion Isaac Newton England 1687
Laws of planetary motion Johannes Kepler Germany 1609-10
Magnesium Sir Humphry Davy England 1808
Neptune (Planet) Johann Galle Germany 1846
Neutron James Chadwick England 1932
Nickel Axel Cronstedt Sweden 1751
Nitrogen Daniel Rutherford England 1772
Oxygen Joseph Priestly, C.W. Scheele England, Sweden 1772
Ozone Christian Schonbein Germany 1839
Pluto Clyde Tombaugh U.S.A 1930
Plutonium G.T. Seaborg U.S.A 1940
Proton Ernest Rutherford England 1919
Quantum Theory Max Planck Germany 1900
Radioactivity Antoine Bacquerel France 1896
Radium Pierre & Marie Curie France 1898
Silicon Jons Berzelius Sweden 1824
Special theory of relativity Albert Einstein Switzerland 1905
Sun as centre of solar system Copernicus Poland 1543
Uranium Martin Klaproth Germany 1789
Uranus (Planet) William Herschel England 1781
X-rays Wilhelm Roentgen Germany 1895
 59

Scientific Instruments
Name of Instrument Used for
Altimeter measuring altitude
Ammeter measuring strength of an electric current
Anemometer measuring the velocity of wind
Audiometer measuring level of hearing
Barometer measuring atmospheric pressure
Callipers measuring the internal and external diameters of tubes
Calorimeter measuring quantity of heat
Compass finding out direction
Dynamo converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
Galvanometer detecting and determining the strength of small electric currents
Hydrometer measuring specific gravity of a liquid
Hygrometer measuring the humidity in the atmosphere
Lactometer measuring the purity of milk
Manometer measuring the gaseous pressure
Micrometer measuring minute distances, angles, etc.
Microscope seeing magnified view of very small objects
Photometer measuring intensity of light from distant stars
Pyrometer measuring high temperatures
Radar detecting and finding the presence and location of moving objects like
aircraft, missile, etc.
Radiometer measuring the emission of radiant energy
Rain Gauge measuring the amount of rainfall
Seismograph measuring and recording the intensity and origin of earthquake shocks
Sextant measuring altitude and angular distances between two objects or heavenly
bodies
Spectrometer measuring the refractive indices
Spherometer measuring the curvature of spherical objects/surface
Sphygmomanometer measuring blood pressure
Stethoscope ascertaining the condition of heart and lungs by listening to their function
Stroboscope viewing objects that are moving rapidly with a periodic motion as if they
were at rest
Tachometer measuring the rate of revolution or angular speed of a revolving shaft
Telescope viewing magnified images of distant objects
Thermocouple measuring the temperature inside furnaces and jet engines
Thermometer measuring human body temperature
Thermostat regulating constant temperature
Ultrasonoscope measuring utrasonic sounds
Viscometer measuring the viscosity of a fluid
Voltmeter measuring potential difference between two points.
 60

CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS l The unit used to measure atomic mass is called
l An element may be defined as a substance which atomic mass unit, i.e., amu.
is made by same type of atoms and it can neither
ELECTRON
be broken into, nor built from two or more simpler
substances by any known physical or chemical l The electron is a fundamental particle of an atom
methods, e.g., copper, silver, hydrogen, carbon, which carries a unit negative charge. It was
oxygen, nitrogen, gold, iron etc. discovered by J.J. Thomson in 1897.

COMPOUNDS PROTON
l A compound may be defined as a substance which l It is a fundamental particle of an atom carrying
contains two or more elements combined in some a unit positive charge. It was discovered by
fixed proportion by weight and which can be Rutherford and Goldstein in 1886.
decomposed into two or more elements by any
NEUTRON
suitable method.
l It is a fundamental particle of an atom carrying
l The properties of a compound are entirely
no charge. It was discovered by Chadwick in
different from those of the elements from which
it is made. 1932.
l Some common examples of compounds are water, ISOTOPES
sugar, salt, aspirin, chloroform, alcohol and ether. l The atoms of the same element having different
MIXTURES mass numbers are called isotopes.
l A material containing two or more elements or ISOBARS
compounds in any proportion is a mixture. l Elements having the same atomic mass but differ
l The components of a mixture can be separated in atomic number are called isobars.
by physical means like filtration, sublimation
and distillation. ISOTONES
l Elements having the same number of neutrons
ATOMIC STRUCTURE are called isotones.
ATOM
l Atom is the smallest part of the element that OXIDATION AND REDUCTION
takes part in a chemical reaction. Atom of an l Oxidation is a process in which a substance adds
element can not be changed into that of another on oxygen or loses hydrogen. In modern terms,
element by a chemical or physical means. It does oxidation is the process in which a substance
not exist in free state. loses electrons.
MOLECULE l Reduction is a process in which a substance adds
on hydrogen or loses oxygen. In modern terms,
A molecule is the smallest part of an element or
reduction is the process in which a substance
l

compound that is capable of existing

gains electrons.
independently.
l Oxidation and reduction always occur
ATOMIC WEIGHT (OR ATOMIC MASS) simultaneously. If one substance is oxidised,
l The atomic mass of an element is the number of another is reduced. The reaction in which this
times its atom is heavier than 1/12th of the mass oxidation-reduction process occurs is called a
of carbon (C12) atom. redox reaction.
 61

l Oxidising agents are substances which bring since the acid and base neutralize each other’s
about the oxidation of other substances, e.g., effect.
Potassium Permanganate, Potassium Dichromate,
Nitric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, etc. ELECTROLYSIS
l Reducing agents are substances which bring l The process of decomposition of an electrolyte
about the reduction of other substances, e.g., by the passage of an electric current through its
hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen, carbon, sulphur molten state or its aqueous solution is called
dioxide, etc. electrolysis.
l Device through which electric current is passed
ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS known as electrodes.
ACID METALLURGY
l An acid is any compound that can react with a
base to form a salt, the hydrogen of the acid l Metals occur in nature, in the native (in free
being replaced by positive metallic ion. state) as well as in the combined state.
According to modern theory, an acid is a l Naturally occurring materials containing metals
compound which yields hydrogen ions (protons) are called minerals.
to a base in a chemical reaction. In a water l A mineral from which a given metal is obtained
solution, an acid tastes sour, turns blue litmus economically is called an ore.
red and produces free hydrogen ions. l The process of extraction of a metal in a pure
Acid Sources state on a large scale from its ore by Physical and
Citric Acid Lemons or Oranges Chemical means is called metallurgy.
(Citrus Fruits) l The rocky and siliceous matter that associated
Lactic acid Sour milk with the ore is known as gangue.
Tartaric acid Grapes l Substance that is added to ore to remove the
Acetic acid Vinegar gangue is known as flux.
Maleic acid Apples l The process of removal of gangue from the ore
Oxalic acid Tomato is known as concentration.
Formic acid Red ants l Calcination is the heating of the ore in the
absence of air. This method is employed for
BASES obtaining the metal oxides from carbonates and
l Such compounds which gives salt and water with hydroxides.
acid known as bases. Bitter in taste, turns red l Roasting is the heating of the ore in the presence
litmus paper into blue, contains replaceable of air. On roasting, part of the ore is oxidised to
hydroxyl group. form an oxide. This oxide is then reduced to the
l Some important bases are sodium hydroxide, metal.
potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and l The industrial reduction process for obtaining
ammonium hydroxide. metal from the treated ore is called smelting.
l All alkalies are bases but all bases are not alkalies
because all bases are not soluble in water. AMALGUM
l An alloy in which one of the component metals
SALTS is mercury is known as amalgum.
l Salts are ionic compounds containing a positive
ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion). IRON AND STEEL
l When an acid reacts with a base, a salt and water l Iron is extracted from its ores by the blast furnace
are formed. This reaction is called neutralization process.
 62

l Iron obtained from blast furnace is called pig l A natural source of hydrocarbon is petroleum
iron or cast iron containing about 5% carbon. obtained from sedimentary rocks.
l Pure iron is called wrought iron which does not l Compounds having the same molecular formula
contain carbon more than 0.2%, or any other but differ in properties due to different structural
impurities or constituents. formula known as isomers and this property is
l Steel contains 0.25% – 2% carbon and varying called isomerism.
amounts of other elements.
SATURATED HYDROCARBONS (ALKANES)
CARBON AND ITS COMPOUNDS l Containing single covalent bonds only.
ALLOTROPY l Such compounds are, in general, called alkanes
for instance, Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane.
l Such substances which having the same chemical
properties, but differ in physical properties, UNSATURATED HYDROCARBONS
known as allotropes and this property is called
l Containing multiple bonds.
allotropy.
l Compounds with double bonds are called
DIAMOND alkenes, e.g. ethylene, propyene etc. and triple
l Diamond is the purest form of carbon. bond containing compounds are called alkynes,
l It is non-conductor of heat and electricity. e.g. acetylene, propyne etc.
l It is the hardest natural substance. l Benzene is an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon
l It burns in air at 900°C and gives out CO2. with the structure.
l Compounds derived from benzene are called
GRAPHITE (BLACK LEAD) aromatic compounds.
l It is good conductor of heat and electricity.
l Graphite is used in making lead pencils. FUELS
l Graphite is also used as electrodes, lubricant, Solid Fuels
moderators, electrotyping and carbon arc.
l These contain carbon and, during combustion,
AMORPHOUS FORMS OF CARBON form mainly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
1. Wood Charcoal – Obtained from wood with a large amount of heat.
2. Sugar Charcoal – Obtained from cane sugar l Examples of solid fuels are wood, coal, coke and
3. Bone or Animal Charcoal – Obtained from paraffin wax.
animal bones
Liquid Fuels
4. Coke Charcoal – Obtained from coal
l These are basically mixtures of several
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) hydrocarbons. During combustion, they form
l Carbon monoxide is an active poison and is very carbon dioxide and water.
dangerous as it is a colourless and odourless gas l Liquid fuels are obtained as different fractions
and can not, therefore, be easily detected. during the distillation of petroleum.
l The extremely poisonous nature of carbon l Examples of liquid fuels are kerosene oil, petrol,
monoxide is a result of its combining with the diesel oil and alcohol.
haemoglobin of the blood to form carbo-
xyhaemoglobin, which is not decompassed by Gaseous Fuels
any of the processes in the body. l Gaseous fuels do not leave ash on burning and
HYDROCARBONS have high content of heat.
l Compounds of carbon and hydrogen are called l The main gaseous fuels are liquefied petroleum
hydrocarbon. gas (LPG, mainly a mixture of propane and
 63

butane and used in homes for cooking, water gas l Hard glass is potash lime silicate and melts at
(CO + H2), producer gas (CO + N2), coal gas high temperature in comparison to soft glass and
(mixture of hydrogen, methane, ethylene, carbon is used in manufacturing of flask etc.
monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide) l Flint glass is a lead potash silicate and is used
and natural gas (mixture of methane, ethane, in manufacturing of prism, lens and optical
propane and butane with traces of higher instruments.
hydrocarbons obtained from oil well, above
petroleum). l Pyrex glass is a mixture of sodium aluminium
borosilicates. It is used in manufacturing of high
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS quality equipments in laboratory because it does
l Natural gas contains about 80% methane and not melt at very high temperature.
10% ethane, the remaining 10% being a mixture l Safety glass is prepared by placing a layer of
of higher gaseous hydrocarbons. transparent plastic glass between two layers of
l Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is natural gas glass by means of a suitable adhesive. It is used
filled in cylinders under high pressure. in making wind screen of automobiles,
l The quality of petrol for use in car engines is aeroplanes, trains etc.
denoted by their anti-knock properties. CEMENT
l To increase octane number, tetra ethyl lead (TEL) l The approximate composition of Portland cement
is added to petrol. is:
HEAVY WATER 1. Calcium Oxide ® 62%
2. Silica ® 22%
l Chemically heavy water is deuterium oxide.
3. Alumina ® 7.5%
l Heavy water is used in nuclear reactors as a 4. Magnesia ® 2.5%
moderator because it slows the fast moving
5. Ferric Oxide ® 2.5%
neutrons.
l A small amount of gypsum is added to slow
Hard and Soft Water down the setting of cement.
l Water which produces lather with soap solution l Cement containing excess amount of lime cracks
readily is called soft water. during setting while cement containing less
l Water which does not produce lather with soap amount of lime is weak in strength.
solution readily is called hard water. l Cement containing no iron is white but hard to
l The hardness of water is due to presence of the burn.
bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates of calcium
POLYMERS AND PLASTICS
and magnesium.
l A polymer is a large molecule, built up from
l Temporary hardness of water is due to the
many hundreds of thousands of small unit called
presence of bicarbonates of calcium and
monomeric units or monomers.
magnesium.
The process of formation of polymers from
Permanent hardness of water is due to presence
l
l

of sulphates, chlorides, nitrates of calcium and monomers is called polymerization.

magnesium. l Plastics are cross-linked polymers and very tough.
l Some examples of plastics are — Celluloid,
GLASS Bakelite and Vinyl Plastics.
l Ordinary glass is solid mixture of silica, sodium
silicate and calcium silicate. RUBBER
l Soft glass is a soda-lime silicate glass. It melts at l Natural and Synthetic rubbers are examples of
low temperature. It is used in manufacturing of polymers.
bottles, test tubes etc. l Natural rubber is isomer of isoprene.
 64

l When the natural rubber is heated along with Some Importants Alloys
sulphur called vulcanisation. The resulting rubber
is elastic, hard and strong. Alloys Composition
l Synthetic rubbers are made by polymerisation of Brass Cu, Zn
chloroprene, styrene and butadiene mixtures and Bronze Cu, Sn
isobutylene. Gun metal Cu, Sn, Zn
SOAPS Bel metal Cu, Sn
l The soaps are sodium salts of higher fatty acids. German silver Cu, Zn, Ni
They are useful only in soft water as they form Dutch metal Cu, Zn
an insoluble precipitate in hard water. This Aluminium Al, Cu
precipitate consists of salts of calcium and Nichrome Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn
magnesium of higher fatty acids. No lather or
Chromium steel Cr, C, Fe
emulsion is formed and washing is not possible.

Chemical Formulae, Commercial Name of Chemical Compounds

Commercial Name Chemical Compounds Chemical formulae
Common salt Sodium chloride NaCl
Baking soda Sodium bicarbonate NaHCO 3
Washing soda Sodium carbonate Na2CO3 . 10H2O
Caustic soda Sodium hydroxide NaOH
Chilli salt peter Sodium nitrate NaNO 3
Soda ash Sodium carbonate Na 2CO 3
Hypo Sodium thiosulphate Na2S2O3 . 5H2O

BIOLOGY
diseases, body weakness or defects with the
BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY help of massage and exercise etc.
(a) Anthropology: Deals with the scientific study (h) Sericulture: Deals with the production of raw
of man and the mankind. silk from silkworm.
(b) Agronomy: Deals with the management of (i) Pharmacology: Deals with the knowledge and
farms and science of crop production. manufacture of drugs.
(c) Apiculture: Deals with the process of bee (j) Occupational therapy: Deals with treating
keeping for commercial purposes. the physically handicapped or injured persons
(d) Entomology: Deals with the structure, habits through exercise etc.
and classification of insects. (k) Psychology: Deals with the study of human
(e) Eugenics: Deals with improving the human mind, its behaviour and mental qualities.
race. (l) DNA finger printing: Technique to help
(f) Pathology: Deals with the nature of disease, identify a person on the basis of genes.
their causes, symptoms, effects, their cure and
control. ANIMALS/PLANTS
(g) Physiotherapy: Deals with the treatment of l The organisms that closely resemble one another
 65 (137) G.K.—9

are placed in one group, the groups which have

similarities are combined together into larger
FOOD
groups, and these into still larger ones. The most l It is a nutritive substance taken by an organism
inclusive category is kingdom. Other major for growth, work, repair and maintaining life
categories, in descending order are: phylum, class, processes. It provides energy to do work and
order, family, genus, and species. Man belongs maintain body heat, provides materials for the
to Animal kingdom, chordata division or phylum, growth of the body, makes necessary materials
Mammalia class, Primates order, Hominidae for reproduction and provides materials for the
family, Homo genus and Sapiens species. repair of damaged cells and tissues of our body.
l Carbohydrates: For a normal person, 400 to 500
CELL THEORY gms of carbohydrates are required daily but for
sportspersons, growing children and nursing
l Cell is the basic unit of structure of all living mothers, it is on higher side.
organisms. According to the cell theory, all
l Proteins: They are complex organic compounds
organism are composed of cells and cell products made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
and growth and development results from the The building blocks of Protein are Amino acids
division and differentiation of cells. and there are large number of amino acids.
l Cells membrane surrounds all living cells. l Proteins are essential for the growth of children
l Nucleus is the most important cell organelle and teenagers, and for maintenance and making
which controls and coordinates all cell activities good the wear and tear of the body tissues in adults.
and also concerned with the transmission of l An adult needs about 1 gm of protein per kg of
heredity characters. body weight.
l Mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes and l Fats: They are esters of long chain fatty acids
dictyosomes are present in plant and animal cells. and an alcohol called glycerol. Fats also contain
l Only plant cells have cell wall, chloroplast and atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
vacuole. l The main function of fats in the body is to provide
l Viruses constitute a difficulty since in many ways a steady source of energy and for this purpose,
they are intermediate between living and dead they are deposited within the body.
matter. l One gm of fat gives 37 kilojoules of energy
l The cell is said to be made up of a substance which is more than double of that given by
carbohydrates.
called Protoplasm which has two main
constituents cytoplasm and nucleus, and is l Fats, the richest source of energy to our body,
bounded by a cell membrane on outside. can be stored in the body for subsequent use. Fats,
soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water,
l Cells take up the raw materials for metabolism also supply fat-soluble vitamins to our body.
through the cell membrane from extracellular
l Minerals: Some of the important minerals needed
fluid surrounding them.
by our body are — iron, iodine, calcium,
l Cytoplasm inside is responsible for maintaining phosphorus, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper,
the internal distribution of organelles and also magnesium, chloride, fluoride and sulphur.
for free cell movements. l We get most of the minerals in combined form
l Mitochondria inside provides energy for reactions from plant sources. Deficiency of these minerals
inside the cell. Ribosomes are responsible for the causes many diseases.
synthesis of proteins. l Energy Requirements: The energy requirement
l The Endoplasmic Reticulum helps in addition of of a body varies according to age, sex, lifestyle,
other sugar units to proteins and their occupation, climate and special situations like
transportation to other parts of the cell. pregnancy and lactation.
 66 (137) G.K.—9-II

Age Energy requirements l Vitamins: They act as catalysts in certain

chemical reactions of metabolism in our body.
5 years 6000 kJ per day
11 years 9000 kJ per day l They don't provide energy to our body nor form
18 years 11000 kJ per day body tissues.
Adult (normal work) 9600 kJ per day l More than 15 types of vitamins are known and
Adult (heavy work) 12000 kJ per day only 2 vitamins — D and K can be formed in our
Adult (very heavy work) 16000 kJ per day body.

Vitamin Necessity Source

Vitamin A For maintaining healthy eyesight, Cod liver oil, fish, eggs, milk,
normal skin and hair carrot, leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B1 For growth, carbohydrate metabolism, Milk, soya-food, meat, whole
functioning of heart, nerves and muscles. cereals, green vegetables.
Vitamin C For keeping teeth, gums and joints healthy, for Citrus fruits, guava, tomatoes.
increasing resistance of body to infection
Vitamin D For normal growth of bones and teeth Milk, eggs, butter, cod liver oil, sun light.
Vitamin E For normal reproduction, functioning of Green leafy vegetables, milk,
muscles and protection of liver butter, tomato.
Vitamin K For normal clotting of blood and normal functioning of liver Green leafy vegetables, soyabean, tomato.

l Roughage: Though it does not provide any Vitamin A Night-blindness,

energy to the body, yet keeps the digestive Xerophthalmia
system in order, by helping in retaining water in Vitamin B1 Beri-Beri
the body and preserving constitution. Vitamin B2 Cheilosis
l The main source of roughage are salads, cabbage, Vitamin B5 Pellagra
corn cob, porridge, vegetables and fruits with Vitamin C Scurvy
stems. Vitamin D Rickets (in children),
(in adult) Osteomalacia
DISEASES Vitamin K Hypothrombinemia
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Iron Anaemia
l They are the diseases which can be transmitted Iodine Goitre
from reservoirs of infection or infected person to Fluoride Dental caries
the healthy but susceptible persons. Calcium and Affects formation
l The disease causing agent or the pathogen can phosphorus of bones and teeth
be transmitted directly or indirectly. Hormone Deficiency Disease
DEFICIENCY DISEASES Insulin Diabetes
l These occur due to deficiency of some nutrients Thyroxine Cretinism (child), Goitre
in the diet or some hormone due to hypo activity STH Dwarfism, Gigantism
or damage to endocrine glands. ALLERGIC DISEASE
Diet Deficiency Disease l In these diseases, body becomes hypersensitive
Protein Kwashiorkor to some foreign agents, allergens, which cause
Protein-energy Marasmus inflammation when come in contact with the
malnutrition
body or enter inside the body.
 67

l Foreign agents can be dust, pollens, certain-foods,

serum, certain drugs or fabrics. SYSTEM OF HUMAN BODY
l The unfavourable response of the body to DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
allergens is called allergic reaction. Asthma and l The digestive system consists of alimentary canal
hay fever are allergic diseases. and digestive glands. Alimentary canal is about
BACTERIAL DISEASES 8-10 meters long tube of varying diameter. Food
l Bacteria are minute organisms which are known is taken in through mouth.
to cause a number of diseases: l The tongue helps in ingestion, chewing, tasting
and swallowing of food and mixing of food and
Disease Incubation Spread
saliva.
period through
l Salivary glands secret saliva which helps in
Tuberculosis 2-10 weeks Air-borne,droplet
infection digestion of starch. Gastric glands present in the
Diptheria 2-6 days Air-borne droplet mucosa of the stomach, provide acidic medium
infection for the food digestion.
Cholera 6 hours to Contaminated food and l Liver, the largest sized, reddish brown gland of
2-3 days water. House flies
are the vectors
body, secrets bile. Liver is present in the right
Leprosy Upto 5 years Prolonged and upper part of the abdomen. The bile secreted by
intimate contact the liver is stored in gall bladder. It helps in the
Whopping 7-14 days Droplet infection emulsification and digestion of fats.
cough l Pancreas is the second largest gland in human
Tetanus 3-21 days Entry of cysts through
body and secretes pancreatic juices. Intestine also
any wound made by
sharp object, dog bite secret juices.
or fall on the road
Typhoid 1-3 weeks Directed and Contact RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Plague 2-6 days Rats and bed-bugs l Oxygen is needed for the oxidation and expelling
transmit the germs of carbon dioxide is necessary to avoid its-
Pneumonia 1-3 days Air-borne accumulation. This process of exchange of gases
between the environment and the body, is called
VIRAL DISEASES respiration.
Disease Incubation Spread l In some unicellular organisms like aerobic
period through bacteria, amoeba, hydra, etc. there is direct
Chicken-pox 12-20 days Direct contact with exchange of gases between the carbon dioxide
infected persons or of the body and oxygen of water.
infected objects
Smallpox 12 days Droplet infection l There is no blood for transport of gases. However,
Poliomyalitis 7-14 days Direct and oral in larger and complex form of animals,
Measles 10 days Droplet infection specialised respiratory organs are developed.
Mumps 12-26 days Droplet infection l Amphibians respire through skin, fishes through
Rabies 1-3 months Bite of rabied animal like gills and mammals, birds and reptiles through
dogs, monkeys, cats lungs.
Influenza 24-28 hours Air-borne
l A normal adult inspires or expires about 500 ml
DISEASES CAUSED BY PROTOZOA of gas with each breath and about 72 breathes
per minutes.
l Amoebiasis (Amoebic dysentery), Malaria, Kala-
azar, Trypanosomiasis and Giardiasis are main CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
diseases caused by Protozoans. l Main components of the circulatory system are
l Malaria is a parasitic infection. heart, blood vessels and blood.
 68

l Heart is a thick, muscular, contractile and l Group AB contains neither anti-A nor anti-B
automatic pumping organ. In birds and mammals, factor and people with this group can receive
heart is divided into four chambers. transfusions from both but can give to neither.
l Arteries are thick walled blood vessels which l Group O contains both anti-A and anti-B and
always carry the blood away from the heart to can receive blood only from Group O but can
various body parts. donate blood to all Groups. Group O is called
l Veins are thin walled blood vessels which always universal donor because they can donate to all
carry the blood from various parts generally to the Groups.
the heart. l Group AB is called universal acceptor because
l In an adult healthy person, the normal rate of they can accept blood from all Groups.
heart beat at rest is about 70-72 times per minute.
SKELETON SYSTEM
BLOOD l The frame or the hard structure of the human
l It is red, opaque, somewhat sticky and viscous body is composed from the bones and the organs
fluid in the body of animals. of making such frame are called skeleton system.
l It is slightly alkaline (pH = 7.4), heavier than Bones
water (sp gr = 1.05) and five times more viscous
than distilled water. l Bone is the hardest tissue of the body and form
the largest section of the body weight.
l Blood forms 6 to 10% of the body weight.
Bones contain organic as well as inorganic
An adult, on average, has about 6.8 litres of
l
l
matters. With advancing age, the inorganic
blood.
matter's share increases, causing the bones to
l Blood contains plasma and blood corpuscles with become more brittle.
the former occupying 55-60% of the volume.
l Long bones such as humerus and femur are hollow
l Plasma transports food components, metabolic
while small bones are solid.
wastes and hormones; keeps constant level of pH
of blood, maintains body temperature and helps EXCRETORY SYSTEM
in blood clotting. l In men, excretory system is formed of one pair of
l Erythrocytes or red blood corpuscles (RBCs), kidneys, one pair of ureters, a urinary bladder
leukocytes or white blood corpuscles (WBCs) and a urethra. Kidney is about 10 cm long, bean
and blood platelets are other parts of the blood. shaped, dark-red and slightly flattened structure.
l Due to the presence of iron containing pigment l Sweet glands, oil glands, lungs and liver also act
haemoglobin, RBCs are red in colour. The RBCs as additional excretory organ.
are crucial for ex-change of oxygen and carbon l In case of kidney failure, a man can treated by
dioxide. WBCs are nucleated and non-pigmented hemodialysis or transplantation of a kidney from
cells. They are larger in size than RBCs but far a donor's body.
less in number (1 : 600).
l WBCs play an important role in immune system NERVOUS SYSTEM
of the body. Blood platelets cause the coagulation l The system which controls and coordinates the
of blood and clot formation to prevent excessive body functions, retains memory and receives and
bleeding. sends signals, is called the nervous system.
l Human blood is divided into four main Groups— l The nervous system comprises brain, spinal cord,
A, B, AB and O. nerves and nerve fibres.
l The plasma of Group A blood contains an anti- l Human brain weighs about 1200 to 1400 gm.
B factor and vice-versa, so that people of Groups Main parts of the brain are cerebrum, cerebellum
A and B cannot accept each other's blood. and medulla oblongata.
 69

l Cerebrum controls voluntary function and is site and thus one can produce organisms of known
of intelligence, will power, emotions, etc. and desirable characteristics.
l Cerebellum controls involuntary functions like
GENETIC ENGINEERING
heart beat, respiration, etc.
l It is the method of artificial synthesis of new
l Spinal cord is about 45 cm long and about 35
genes and their subsequent transplantation or
gm in weight. It conducts impulses to and from
methods of correcting the defective genes.
the brain and controls reflex actions of the body.
l It has helped in producing plants and animals
l Various cranial (arising from ending into brain)
with specific characters.
and spinal nerves (arising from spinal cord)
control smell, vision, movements of body parts, l So, crippling hereditary diseases can also be cured
taste and hearing. like hemophilia etc.

REPRODUCTION SYSTEM DNA FINGERPRINTING

l In this type of reproduction, there is formation l It consists of examining repetitive DNA in the
and fusion of sex cells, called gametes. genome for variations in the length of restriction
fragments.
l Organism develops from the zygote through
embryo formation. l Every individual has his own pattern, so that
fingerprinting can match blood to a particular
l It generally involves two parents — male and
person, and patterns are inherited from parent to
female.
child, allowing the method to identify
l The offsprings are different from the parent as relationships between individuals.
variations appear due to new combinations of
genes. So, it plays an important role in evolution. IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION
l All higher plants and animals reproduce sexually. l When a sperm and an egg are made to fertilize
outside a living body (usually a test tube), it is
CHROMOSOMES called in-vitro fertilization.
l Plants and animals have fixed number of l This process has been used to impregnate several
chromosomes per cell. females who could not do so through natural
l Genes are located on chromosomes and are means.
responsible for transfer of characteristics from
one cell to the next either in the same organism Diseases and the Parts of Body they Affect
or from parents to offspring.
AIDS—Immune system Gout—Joints of bone
l Man has 23 pairs of chromosomes, of which one of body Jaundice—Liver
pair is sex chromosomes. Arthritis—Inflammation Meningitis—Brain or
l Males child inherits X chromosomes from the of joints spinal cord
female parent and Y from the male parent. Asthma—Lungs Pleurisy—Pleura (in-
l Female child receives a X chromosome each from Cataract—Eyes flammation of)
either of its parents. Polio—motor neurons
Conjunctivitis—Eyes
Pneumonia—Lungs
l Mendel was the first scientist to explain Diabetes—Pancreas
Pyorrhoea—Sockets of
transmission of units from reproductive cells of Diphtheria—Throat teeth
the parents to the off-springs. Glaucoma—Eyes Tuberculosis—Lungs
CLONING Eczema—Skin Typhoid—Intestine
Goitre—Front of the Malaria—Spleen
l It is the process of producing genetically identical
neck (due to enlarge- Leukaemia—Blood
copies of a biological material, starting from a
ment of thyroid gland) Rickets—Bones
single cell. The original genes are transplanted
 70

SPACE RESEARCH
First in Space
V First creator of rules regarding space research Isaac Newton
V First artificial satellite launched in space Sputnik-1 (1957)
V First living being sent in space Louika (a dog)
V Firstever manned spacecraft Vostok-I
V First man in space Yuri Gagarin U.S.S.R. (1961)
V First woman in space Valentina Tereshkova U.S.S.R. (June 1963)
V First man who moved in space out of the spacecraft Alexi Livonov U.S.S.R. (June 1965)
V First person to land on moon Neil Armstrong, America (21st July, 1969)
V First fourwheeled carriage without human Leunokhev-I U.S.S.R. (1970)
being on moon
V First space lab in orbit Skylab (America, 1973)
V First space shuttle Columbia (America, 1981)
V First Indian (man) in space Squadron leader—Rakesh Sharma
(13th April, 1984)
V First Indian (Woman) in space Kalpana Chawla (19th Nov., 1997)
V First American woman in space Sailyride (1983)
V First spacecraft on Mars Pathfinder (6 July, 1997)
V First woman who lead spacecraft Allin Collis (America)
V First spacecraft without man Shenzoo, China (20th Nov. 1999)

Indian Space Programme : At a Glance

Satellite Date Type Launch Vehicle Result
Aryabhatta 19-04-75 Scientific Cosmos successful
Bhaskara I 07-06-79 Geosurvey Cosmos successful
Rohini 10-08-79 Geosurvey S.L.V.3 unsuccessful
Rohini D-1 18-07-80 Geosurvey S.L.V.3 successful
Rohini 31-05-81 Scientific S.L.V.3 successful
Apple 19-06-81 Communication Ariane successful
Bhaskara II 20-11-81 Geosurvey Cosonos successful
INSAT-1A 10-04-82 Multipurpose Delta unsuccessful
Rohini 17-04-83 Scientific S.L.V.3 successful
INSAT-1B 30-08-83 Multipurpose Space Shuttle successful
SROSS I 24-03-87 Technical ASLV-D1 unsuccessful
IRS-1A 17-03-88 Remote sensing Vostok successful
SROSS II 17-07-88 Technical ASLV-D2 unsuccessful
INSAT-1C 21-07-88 Multipurpose Ariane-4 unsuccessful
INSAT-1D 12-06-90 Multipurpose Delta successful
IRS-1B 29-08-91 Remote sensing Vostok successful
INSAT-2A 10-07-92 Multipurpose Ariane successful
 71

Satellite Date Type Launch Vehicle Result

INSAT-1D 12-06-90 Multipurpose Delta successful
IRS-1B 29-08-91 Remote sensing Vostok successful
INSAT-2A 10-07-92 Multipurpose Ariane successful
IRS-ID 29-09-97 Remote sensing PSLV successful
INSAT-3B 22-03-2000 Multipurpose Ariane successful
G-SAT-1 18-04-2001 Multipurpose GSLV-D successful
MAT SAT 12-09-2002 Meteorology PSLVC-4 successful
INSAT-3E 28-09-2003 Communication Ariane-5 successful
Cartosat-1 & hamsat 05-05-2005 Maping and Communication PSLV-C6 successful
CARTOSAT-2 10-01-2007 Communication PSLV-C7 successful
Chandrayaan-I 22-10-2008 Maping and Scientific PSLV-C11 successful
Oceansat-2 24-09-2009 Remote Sensing PSLV-C14 successful
CARTOSAT-2B 12-07-2010 Communication PSLV-C15 successful
RESOURCESAT-2 20-04-2011 Remote Sensing PSLV-C16 successful
GSAT-12 15-07-2011 Communication PSLV-C17 successful
Megha-Tropiques 12-10-2011 Maping and Scientific PSLV-C18 successful
RISAT-1 26-04-2012 Remote Sensing PSLV-C19 successful
Spot-6 09-09-2012 Remote Sensing PSLV-C21 successful
Saral 25-02-2013 Scientific PSLV-C20 successful
GSAT-7 30-08-2013 Defence Ariane-5 successful
MOM 5-11-2013 Mapping PSLV-C25 successful
GSAT-14 05-01-2014 Communication GSLV-D5 successful
IRNSS-1B 04-04-2014 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C24 successful
Spot-7 30-06-2014 Remote Sensing PSLV-C23 successful
GSAT-16 07-12-2014 Communication Ariane-5 successful
IRNSS-1D 28-03-2015 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C27 successful
GSAT-6 27-08-2015 Communication GSLV-D6 successful
Astrosat 28-09-2015 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C30 successful
TELEOS-1 16-12-2015 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C29 successful
IRNSS-1E 20-01-2016 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C31 successful
IRNSS-1F 10-03-2016 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C32 successful
IRNSS-1G 28-04-2016 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C33 successful
Cartosat-2 & others 22-06-2016 Mapping and Scientific PSLV-C34 successful
insat-3DR 08-09-2016 Meteorology GSLV-F05 successful
Scatsat-1 & others 26-09-2016 Multipurpose PSLV-C35 successful
RESOURCESAT-2A 07-12-2016 Remote Sensing PSLV-C36 successful
CARTOSAT-2 & 103 others 15-02-2017 Multipurpose PSLV-C37 successful
GSAT-9 06-05-2017 Communication GSLV MK-II successful
GSAT-19 05-06-2017 Communication GSLV MK-III-D1 successful
CARTOSAT-2E 23-06-2017 Earth observation Satellite PSLV-C38 successful
GSAT-17 29-06-2017 Earth observation Satellite Ariane-5 ECA successful
Cartosat-2F & others 12-01-2018 Multipurpose PSLV-C40 successful
GSAT-6A 29-03-2018 Communication GSLV-F08 successful
GSAT-7A 19-12-2018 Military Satellite GSLV-MK-II-F11 successful
Chandrayaan-2 22-07-2019 Lunar Exploration GSLV MK-III M01 —
Cartosat-3 27-11-2019 Earth Imagine Satellite PSLV-C47 successful
GSAT-30 17-01-2020 Communication Ariane-5 successful
EOS-01 07-11-2020 Earth Observation PSLV-C49 successful
CMS-01/GSAT-12R 17-12-2020 Communication PSLV-XLC50 successful
 72

COMPUTER
l The computer is the system of that electronic l The data is entered through the input unit in the
device through which various informations are computer and through the central processing unit
processed on the basis of a definite set of with the help of External Memory Unit datas are
instructions called program and mathematical arranged and processed.
(numerical) and non-mathematical both types of l Ultimately by the output unit these datas or
informations are processed. informations are issued or released.
l The first mechanical computer was composed or
fabricated by Blaise Pascal in 1642 and it is PARTS OF COMPUTER
called Pascalene. l Monitor : The monitor of the computer is like a
l But in 1833, Charles Babbage first time television in which the picture appears in the
conceived an automatic calculator or computer. form of doted points on the screen and these are
called pixels.
l Charles Babbage is called the father of modern
computer. l Hard Disc and Floppy Disc : The Hard Disc is
the permanent disc in the computers while the
l Herman made an electronic tabulating machine
Floppy Disc is the disc utilised when datas or
based on punch cards which operates
informations are to be transferred from one
automatically.
computer to another.
l In 1937, first mechanical computer Mark-I was
l Mouse : The mouse of the computer is like the
fabricated by Howard Akeen.
remote control of TV through which computer is
l The most outstanding contribution in the directly regulated or controlled without utilising
development of modern computer goes to John the key-board.
Wan Newmaan who brought the 2nd revolution
l Printer : The printer is a device which prints any
in the area of computer in 1951.
documents or processed informations of the
l He discovered EDVAC (Electronic Discrete computer.
Variable Automatic Computer) and utilised the
stored program and the binary number system in SOME HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGES
the computer. 1. FORTRAN : This language was developed
for solving the mathematical formulae very
FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTER
quickly and conveniently.
l 1. Collection and composition (input) of datas;
2. COBOL : This language was developed for
2. Storage of datas. the commerical purposes. For the processing
3. Processing of datas. of this language a group of sentences is
4. Retrieval or output of the proccessed selected called paragraph and all paragraphs
informations and datas. composed are called a section, while all
sections composed are called a division.
UNITS OF COMPUTER
3. BASIC : In basic a definite part of the
1. Input unit. prescribed instruction is only inserted in the
2. Central processing unit–CPU. computer.
3. External Memory unit. 4. ALGOL : This was basically fabricated and
4. Output unit. designed for the complex algebraic
l The CPU of the computer is called brain of the calculations.
computer and sometimes CPU is also called 5. PASCAL : It is an amplified and modified
Micro Processor of the computer. form of ALGOL.
 73 (137) G.K.—10

6. COMAL : This computer language is used l In India a very large computer network namely
for the students of secondary level. INDONET has been installing through which all
7. LOGO : This language is used for children the main towns and cities has to be interlinked.
and kids for drawing Graphic line diagrams.
COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY
8. PROLOG : This language is developed in
l Bit : The bit is a unit of measurement of the
1973 in France and is used for Artificial
electronic data. One bit is either 0 or 1 but not
Intelligence which is capable and equivalent
both. On composing 8 bits, 1 byte is formed.
to the logical program.
l Bug : The Bug is the error in the computer
9. FORTH : This language was invented by
program or system and its eradication is called
Charles Mure which is frequently used in all
Debug.
types of the works in the computer.
l Byte : Total eight bits compose a byte. Thus 8
COMPUTER VIRUS bits = 1 byte.
l The computer virus is an electronic code which l CD-ROM : A CD like of music CD in which data
is used to abolish or erradicate the inclusive can be stored substantially called CD-ROM. In a
informations or programs of the computer. CD with comparison to floppy extremely more
l Some important computer viruses are datas can be stored but one problem in it is that
Micheleanjalo, Dork Avangor, kilo, filip, one time recorded data can not be deleted or
Macmug, Scores, Casecade, Jeruslem, Date crime, modified.
Coloumbs crime, Internet virus, Pachcom, Pach l Chip : It is a thin slice on which by a special
EXE, COM-EXE, Marizuana, C-brain, bloody, mechanism a circuit is designed which is
Chenge Mungu and Desi etc. normally made from Silicon.
l Memory System : The place where computer
COMPUTER NETWORKING
data and program are temporarily kept is called
l There are two types of networkings which are Memory system. Usually memory is implied from
usually occur—Local Area Networking (LAN) RAM.
and Wide Area Networking (WAN).
l Modem : The device which converts digital
signals into analogue signals and vice-versa is
called Modem.
l RAM : It is Random Access Memory
(a place) where datas to be processed are kept
temporarily and it is unstable memory.
l ROM : It is Read Only Memory and it is stable
or Non-valatile memory which doesn't ended after
power off.
l Scanner : It is a device through which graphic
image is transformed to digital image and the
scanners are of usually two types one desktop
l By LAN all the computers of the same buildings and another hand operating.
are connected like the computers of university
premises, computers of offices etc. PROGRAMING
l By WAN all the comptuers of a large area are l Computers perform phenomenal feats of
connected like the computers of all the offices of calculation, but they do not do so in a
a city or town etc. complicated way.
 74

l They actually carry out very simple operations, Several computer languages have been
such as addition and subtraction. developed for different applications, including
l They achieve their fantastic computing power BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN and PASCAL.
by carrying out these operations at incredible Writing programmes is very skilled and time-
speed. consuming work.
l The programme, or set of instructions for operating l But for most typical computer applications
the computer, is therefore written as a sequence ready-written programmes are available, called
of very simple steps. “packages”.

p p p
 75

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
FIRST IN THE WORLD
V First Chinese visitor to India Fahien
V First foreign invader of India Alexander, the Great (Greek)
V First person to climb Mt. Everest Tenzing Norgay (India) and Edmund Hillary (New
Zealand) (1953)
V First atom bomb dropped at Hiroshima (Japan)
V First man in the space Yuri Gagarin (former USSR)
V First woman in the space Valentina Tereshkova (former USSR)
V First person to walk in the space Alexei Leonov (former USSR)
V First person to land on the moon Neil Armstrong (USA)
V First and the only woman to have Santosh Yadav (Indian; May 12, 1992; May
climbed Mt. Everest twice 10, 1993)
V First person on Mt. Everest without oxygen Phu Dorjee (Indian; May 9, 1984)
V First person to climb Mt. Everest twice Nawang Gombu
V First person to climb Mt. Everest Chhewang Nima Sherpa (19 times)
maximum times
V First President of the USA George Washington
V First woman Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka)
V First person to swim across Mathew Webb
English Channel
V First woman to swim across English Channel Gertrude Caroline Ederle
V First woman to climb Mt. Everest Junko Tabei (Japan)
V First woman to climb Mt. Everest Alison Hargreaves (Briton: May 13, 1995)
alone and without oxygen supplies
V First Aeroplane to fly around the Voyager (Dec. 1986)
world without refuelling
V First test-tube Baby Louise Brown (UK; 1978)
V First all-talking Film Jaz Singer (1927)
V First Secretary-General of the UN Trygve Lie (Norway: 1946-53)
V First woman President of the UN Vijayalakshmi Pandit (India: 1953)
General Assembly
V First woman to reach North Pole Ann Bancroft (1986)
V First person to reach North Pole Robert Peary
V First person to reach South Pole Amundsen (1911)
V First woman to command Spacecraft in Space Ellin Collins

75
 76

SUPERLATIVES (WORLD)
(The Largest, Biggest, Smallest, Longest, Highest)
Airport Largest King Fahd International Airport, Dammam (Saudi Arabia)
Animal, Tallest Giraffe (Average height 6.09 m)
Largest and Heaviest Blue Whale (190 tonnes)
Longest recorded Boot lace Worm (55 m)
Fastest Cheetah (Approximately 100 km/hr)
Bay, With max. shore line Hudson Bay (Canada: 12268 km)
With maximum area Bay of Bengal (India: 217 million hc)
Bridge, Highest Sidu River Bridge (China: 1627 ft)
Building, Tallest Burj Khalifa (Dubai, 818 meter)
Canal, Big ship (longest) Suez Canal (160 km)
Busiest Kiel Canal (North Sea)
Canyon/Gorge, Deepest Hells Canyon, Snake River (Idaho : 7900 ft)
Largest Grand Canyon (Colarado River; USA; 446 km)
Church, Largest Basilica of St. Peter (Vatican City Rome-- Area 23000 sq.m.)
City, Largest in Area Jiuquan Gansu, China (Area 1,67,996 Sq km)
Continent, biggest Asia (30,928,605 km2)
Smallest Australia Mainland (Area 8,426,635 km2)
Country, Largest in Population China (over 138.5 crore)
Largest in Area Russia (17,075,000 sq. km)
With largest electorate India (over 90 crores)
Smallest independent State of Vatican City (109 acre)
With most land frontiers China (16)
Dam, Largest (concrete) Grand Coulee Dam (1272 m on Columbia River
(Washington State, USA)
Highest Jinping-I (305 m)
Delta, Largest Sundarban’s Ganga-Brahmaputra delta (1,05,000 sq. km)
Desert, Largest Sahara (N. Africa; maximum length 5,150 km EW; maximum
width 3,200 km NS)
Diamond, Largest The Cullinan (3106 carats)
Dome, Largest Singapore National Stadium (310 m)
Epic, Longest Mahabharata
Fish, Largest fresh water Plabeuk (China, Laos and Thailand)
Most abundant Bristle mouth
Most venomous Stone Fish (Indo-Pacific Waters)
Film, Most Oscars Ben Hur (11 Oscars–1959); Titanic (11 Oscars–1998); The
Lord of Rings : The Return of the King (11 Oscars—2003).
Fountain, Tallest King Fahd's Fountain (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
 77

Fruit, Most nutritive Avocado (Vitamins A, C, E and Proteins; Central and

South America)
Least nutritive Cucumber
Goldmine, Largest in area Grasberg Mines (Fapua, Indonesia)
Gulf, Largest Gulf of Mexico (1,544,000 sq. km)
Hotel, Tallest JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai (355 meter, 77 Floor)
Largest (with most rooms) Hotel Rossiya (Moscow; Russia; 12 storey; 3,200 rooms)
Island, Biggest Greenland (now known as Kalaatdlit Nunaat---2,175,000
sq km)
Lake, Largest Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran border: 37.18 lakh
km2)
Deepest Baikal (Siberia)
Largest (fresh water) Superior Lake (USA---Canada border: 82,350 km2)
Library, Biggest United States Library of Congress (Washington D.C.
founded in 1800, contains 101 million items)
Biggest non-statutory New York Public Library
Mountain, Highest peak Mt. Everest (8848 m; Nepal)
Highest range Himalayas, Asia (upto 4200 m)
Greatest mountain range Himalaya-Karakoram (96 out of 109 peaks over 7315 m
are here)
Museum, Largest American Museum of Natural History, New York
Ocean, Largest and Deepest The Pacific (Area: 166,240,000 km2; Depth: 10,924 m)
Peninsula, Largest Arabia (3.25 million sq. km)
Park, Largest National Park of North-Eastern, Greenland (972000 km2)
Places, Coldest (annual mean) Polus Nedostupnosti (Antarctica ---58oC)
Driest (annual mean) Desierto de Atacame (near Calama; Chile; rainfall nil)
Hottest (annual mean) Dallol (Ethiopia; 34.4oC mean temperature)
Rainiest (annual mean) Mowsyrnam near Cherapunji (Meghalaya; India; 11873
mm)
Windiest The Commonwealth Bay (Gales reach 320 km/ph)
Planet, Biggest Jupiter (equatorial diameter 142984 km)
Brightest, hottest and Venus
nearest to Earth
Nearest to Sun Mercury
Most satellites Saturn (82)
Plateau, Highest Tibetan Plateau (Central Asia: 4900 m)
Platform, Longest (rail) Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh; India, 1355.4 m. long)
Port, Largest Port of New York and New Jersey (USA)
Port, Busiest Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Railway Line, Longest Trans-Siberian Railway (Moscow-Nakhodka: 9438 km)
Railway Station, Largest Grand Central Terminal (New York City; 19 hc)
Highest Condor (Bolivia; 4786 m)
 78

Religion, Oldest Hinduism

Religion, Largest Christianity
Rivers, Longest (i) Nile (6650 km) (ii) Amazon (6437 km)
Road, Longest Pan American Highway (from Alaska-Brasila: 24140 km)
Sea, Largest South China Sea (2,974,600 sq. km)
Largest (inland) Mediterranean
Stadium, Largest Strahov stadium at Prague (Czechoslovakia 240,000
spectators)
Star, Brightest Sirius A (also called Dog Star)
Swimming Longest English Channel
Telescope, Largest (radio) Five Hundred meter Apertune Spherical Telescope (FAST),
China.
Largest (solar) Kitt Peak National Observatory, (Arizona; USA)
Largest refractor At Yerkes observatory (Wisconsin; USA; 18.9 m)
Temple, Largest Angkor Wat (Cambodia: 402 acres)
Tower, Tallest Tokyo Sky Tree (634 m.)
Train, Fastest Japan’s magnetically levitated (magler) train (Speed over
500 km/hr)
Tunnel, Longest (railway) Gotthard Base Rail Tunnel (Switzerland; 57.1 km)
Largest (road) Laerdal, Norway (24.51 km)
Volcano Greatest concentration in Indonesia
Highest (extinct) Cerro Aconcagua (6960 m; Andes)
Highest (dormant) Volcan Llullaillaco (6723 m; Argentina-Chile)
Highest (active) Ojos del Salado (Chile-Argentina)
Waterfall, Highest Salto-Angel (in Venezuela on a branch of river Carrao,
depth 807 m.)
Largest Khone Falls (Laos; width 10.8 km)
Zoo, Largest Etosha Reserve (Namibia; area 10 million hc approx.).

CAPITAL & CURRENCIES

Country Capital Currency Country Capital Currency

V Afghanistan Kabul Afghani V Bahrain Manama Dinar
V Albania Tirana Lek V Bangladesh Dhaka Taka
V Algeria Algiers Dinar V Barbados Bridgetown Dollar
V Angola Luanda New Kwanza V Belarus Minsk Ruble
V Argentina Buenos Aires Peso V Belgium Brussels Euro
V Armenia Yeravan Dram V Benin Porto Novo Franc
V Australia Canberra Dollar V Bhutan Thimphu Ngultrum 1
V Austria Vienna Euro V Bolivia La paz Dollar
V Azerbaijan Baku Manat V Botswana Gaborone Pula
 79

Country Capital Currency Country Capital Currency

V Brazil Brasilia Real V Kazakhstan Akmola Tenge
V Bosnia Sarajevo Dinar V Kenya Nairobi Shilling
Herzegovina V Korea (S) Seoul Won
V Bulgaria Sofia Lev V Korea (N) Pyongyang Won
V Cambodia Phnom-Penh Riel V Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Som
V Canada Ottawa Dollar V Kuwait Kuwait City Dinar
V Chile Santiago Peso V Laos Vientiane Kip
V China Beijing Yuan V Latvia Riga Euro
V Colombia Bogota Peso V Lebanon Beirut Pound
V Congo Brazzaville Franc V Liberia Monrovia Dollar
V Croatia Zagreb Kuna V Libya Tripoli Dinar
V Cuba Havana Peso V Lithuania Vilnius Litas
V Cyprus Nicosia Euro V Luxembourg Luxembourg Euro
V Czech Prague Koruna V Macedonia Skopje Dinar
Republic V Malawi Lilongwe Kwacha
V Denmark Copenhagen Krone V Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Ringgit
V Ecuador Quito Sucre
V Maldives Male Rufiyaa
V Egypt Cairo Pound
V Mali Bamako Franc
V Estonia Tallinn Euro
V Mauritius Port Louis Rupee
V Ethiopia Addis Ababa Birr
V Mexico Mexico City Peso
V Fiji Suva Dollar
V Moldavia Chisinau Leu
V Finland Helsinki Euro
V Mongolia Ulan Bator Tugrik
V France Paris Euro
V Morocco Rabat Dirham
V Georgia Tbilisi Lari
V Mozambique Maputo Metical
V Germany Berlin Euro
V Myanmar Nay Pyi Taw Kyat
V Ghana Accra Cedi
V Namibia Winohoek Dollar
V Greece Athens Euro
V Nepal Kathmandu Rupee
V Guatemala Guatemala Quetzal
V Netherlands Amsterdam Euro
City
V New Zealand Wellington Dollar
V Guyana George Town Dollar
V Nigeria Abuja Naira
V Hungary Budapest Forint
V Iceland Reykjavik Krona V Norway Oslo Krone
V India New Delhi Rupee V Oman Muscat Rial
V Indonesia Jakarta Rupiah V Pakistan Islamabad Rupee
V Iran Teheran Rial V Panama Panama City Balboa
V Iraq Baghdad Dinar V Peru Lima New Sole
V Ireland Dublin Euro V Philippines Manila Peso
V Israel Jerusalem Shekel V Poland Warsaw Zloty
V Italy Rome Euro V Portugal Lisbon Euro
V Jamaica Kingston Dollar V Qatar Doha Riyal
V Japan Tokyo Yen V Romania Bucharest Leu
V Jordan Amman Dinar V Russia Moscow Ruble
 80

Country Capital Currency Country Capital Currency

V Saudi Arabia Riyadh Rial V Thailand Bangkok Baht
V Senegal Dakar Franc V Tunisia Tunis Dinar
V Slovakia Bratislava Euro V Turkey Ankara Lira
V Spain Madrid Euro V Turkmania Ashikabad Manat
V Sri Lanka Colombo Rupee V Uganda Kampala Shilling
V Ukraine Kiev Hyrvnia
V Sudan Khartoum Dinar
V United Arab Abu Dhabi Dirham
V Suriname Paramaribo Guilder
Emirates
V Sweden Stockholm Krona
V U.K. London Pound Sterling
V Switzerland Berne Swiss Francs
V U.S.A. Washington Dollar
V Syria Damascus Pound
V Uruguay Montevideo Peso
V South Africa Capetown Rand
V Uzbekistan Tashkent Som
(Legislative) V Venezuela Caracas Bolivar
Pretoria V Vietnam Hanoi Dong
(Administrative) V Yemen Sana’a Rial
V Tadzhikistan Dushanbe Ruble V Zimbabwe Harare Dollar
V Taiwan Taipei Dollar V Congo (Zaire) Kinshasa Zaire
V Tanzania Dodoma Shilling V Zambia Lusaka Kwacha

GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS/DISCOVERIES

Place Explorer/Discoverer Nationality Year

America Christopher Columbus Italy 1492
Hawaii Islands Captain James Cook England 1778
(Sandwich Islands)
Newfoundland John Cabot England 1497
New Zealand Abel Janszoon Tasman Holland 1642
North Pole Robert Peary USA 1909
Sea Route to India Vasco da Gama Portugal 1498
(via Cape of Good Hope)
South Pole Roald Amundsen Norway 1911

NATIONAL MONUMENTS OF SOME FAMOUS COUNTRIES

Monument Country Monument Country
Great Wall of China China Pyramid (Giza) Egypt
Taj Mahal (Agra) India Kinder Disk Denmark
Emperial Palace (Tokyo) Japan Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy
Opera House (Sydney) Australia Statue of Liberty (New York) USA
Eiffel Tower (Paris) France Kremlin (Moscow) Russia
 81 (137) G.K.—11

INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES OF SOME PROMINENT COUNTRIES

Country Intelligence Agency
V India Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (I.B.), Central Bureau of Inves-
tigation (C.B.I.)
V Pakistan Inter Service Intelligence (I.S.I.)
V U.S.A. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
V Britain Military Intelligence (M.I.)-5 and 6, Special Branch, Ultra, Joint Intelligence Organisation
V Israel Mosad
V Egypt Mukhabarat
V Japan Nicho
V Russia K.G.B. (Komitel Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosty) (Committee for State Security)
V Canada Security Intelligence Service (SIS)
V S. Africa Bureau of State Security (BSS)
V Iran Sabak
V Iraq Al-Mukhabarat
V Australia Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
V France S.D.E.C.E.
V Spain C.E.S.I.D.

MAJOR LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD Language Speakers (millions)

AND THEIR SPEAKERS
V Urdu 69
Listing the languages spoken by approximately
V Vietnamese 68
1% of humankind (those spoken by more than
60,000,000 people), this table enumerates V Tamil 68
speakers of each tongue as a primary language. V Italian 63
Language Speakers (millions) V Persian 61
V Chinese 1,283 V Malay 60
V Spanish 436 Source : The World Almanac 2018
V English 372
V Arabic 295
V Hindi 260
IMPORTANT NEWS AGENCIES
V Bengali 242 OF THE WORLD
V Portuguese 218
V Russian 153 Agency Country
V Japanese 128
V Lahnda 118 PTI, UNI, UNIVARTA India
V Punjabi (Western) 93 Antara Indonesia
V Javanese 84 Tanjug Serbia
V Korean 77 Associated Press (AP) America
V French 76
Reuters, NAFEN United Kingdom
V German 76
Angence France Press France
V Telugu 74
(AFP)
V Turkish 71
V Marathi 71 TASS Russia
 82 (137) G.K.—11-II

NAME OF PARLIAMENTS OF SOME COUNTRIES

Country Name of Parliament Country Name of Parliament
Afghanistan Shora Norway Storting
Argentina National Congress Poland Sejm
Australia Federal Parliament Russia Federal Assembly
Austria National Assembly (Council of the Federation and
State Duma
Bangladesh Jatiya Sansad
India Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha South Africa National Assembly and Senate

Bhutan Tshogdu (National Assembly) Spain Cortes Generales

Britain House of Commons and House Sweden Riksdag

of Lords Switzerland Federal Assembly (Nationalrat
Canada House of Commons and and Standerat)
Senate North Korea Supreme People’s
China National People Congress Assembly
Denmark Folketing South Korea National Assembly
Iran Majlis (Islamic Consultative U.S.A. Congress (Senate and House
Assembly) of Representatives)
Israel Knesset Ethiopia Federal Council and House of
Japan Diet Representatives
Myanmar Pyithu Hluttaw Iceland Alpingi
(People’s Assembly)
Bulgaria National Assembly
Nepal Rashtriya Panchayat Cuba National Assembly of People’s
The Netherlands States-General Power

LARGEST AND SMALLEST COUNTRIES (Top 5)

Largest Country Largest Country Smallest Country Smallest Country
(Area-wise) (Population-wise) (Area-wise) (Population-wise)
Russia China Vatican City Vatican City
Canada India Monaco Tuvalu
China USA Nauru Palau
United States Indonesia Tuvalu San Marino
Brazil Brazil San Marino Liechstein

MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

Religion Member Percentage Religion Member Percentage
Christianity 2.4 billion 32.9% Buddhism 521 million 7.0%
Islam 1.7 billion 23.6% Sikhism 25 million 0.3%
Hinduism 1.0 billion 13.7% Jews 14 million 0.2%
 83

NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF IMPORTANT COUNTRIES

Country National Emblem Country National Emblem
America Golden Rod Australia Kangaroo
Ireland Shamrock Italy White Lily
Israel Candelabrum Iran Rose
Canada White Lily Great Britain Rose
Chile Candor and Huemul Germany Corn Flower
Japan Chrysanthemum Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Bird
Denmark Beach Turkey Crescent and Star
The Netherlands Lion New Zealand Kiwi, Fern Southern Cross
Norway Lion Nepal Kukri
Pakistan Crescent Poland Eagle
France Lily Belgium Lion
Bangladesh Water Lily Mongolia The Soyombo
Russia Double headed eagle Lebanon Cedar Tree
Sudan Secretary Bird Syria Eagle
India Lioned Capital

FIRST IN INDIA
V The first Indian to get the Nobel Prize for Literature Rabindra Nath Tagore
V The first Indian to get the Nobel Prize for Physics C.V. Raman
V The first Indian to get the Nobel Prize for Peace Mother Teresa
V The first Indian to get the Nobel Prize for Economics Amartya Sen
V The first Indian to get Special Oscar award (1992) Satyajit Ray
V The first and the last Indian Governor-General of C. Rajagopalachari
free India
V The first woman to become the Governor of a State Smt. Sarojini Naidu
V The first Indian Chief of the Army Staff* General K.M. Cariappa
V The first ever woman to become the Chief Minister Smt. Sucheta Kripalani
of a State
V The first Indian woman President of UN General Assembly Smt. Vijaylakshmi Pandit
V The first Indian to become the President of Dr. Nagendra Singh
International Court of Justice
V The first Indian woman to swim across the Ms. Aarti Saha
English Channel
V The first Indian girl to become Miss Universe Miss Sushmita Sen
V The first Indian girl to become Miss World Rita Faria
V The first Indian to swim across the English Channel Mihir Sen
V The first Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw
V The first Indian recipient of Victoria Cross Khudadad Khan
V The first Indian to conquer Mt. Everest Sherpa Tenzing (May 29, 1953)
V The first Indian Cosmonaut (man) Rakesh Sharma (April 3, 1984)
 84

V The first Indian Cosmonaut (woman) Kalpana Chawla (Nov. 19, 1997)
V The first woman to climb Mt. Everest Miss Bachendri Pal (May 23, 1984)
V The first ICS Satyendranath Tagore
V The first to address the UN General Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Assembly in Hindi
V The first Newspaper Bengal Gazette (Jan 27, 1780)
V The first Postage Stamp issued In 1852
V The first Telegraph line laid In 1851 (Calcutta-Diamond Harbour)
V The first Railways run April 16, 1853 (Bombay-Thane)
V The first Electric Train run 1925 (Bombay-Kurla)
V The first Atomic Power Station Tarapore (Maharashtra)
V The first passenger-cum-cargo ship made in India Harshavardhan
V The first Satellite Aryabhatta (1975)
V The first President of the Indian National Congress W.C. Banerjee
V The first President of Indian Republic Dr. Rajendra Prasad
V The first woman judge of the Supreme Court Ms Fatima Bibi
V The first to climb Everest without oxygen Phu Dorjee (1987)
V The first film (movie) Raja Harishchandra
V The first film (talkie) Alam Ara
V The first Metro Railway Calcutta Metro Railway
V The first Test-tube baby, scientifically documented Born on August 6, 1986 at
K.E.M. Hospital, Bombay
V The first TV Centre At Delhi
V The first Indian to get an Oscar Bhanu Athaiya
V The first woman pilot in IAF Ms Harita Kaur Deol
V The first woman to get Olympic Medal Karnam Malleswari
V The first woman Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer

SUPERLATIVES (INDIA)
Highest, Biggest, Largest and Longest in India

V Award for Gallantry, highest Param Vir Chakra

V Award, highest civilian Bharat Ratna
V Bank, with largest number of branches State Bank of India 22,106 Branches (March 2019)
V Road Bridge, Longest Bhupen Hazarika Bridge, Assam (9.15 km)
V Road and Rail Bridge, Longest Bogibeel Bridge, Brahmaputra River, Assam
V Cattle Fair, Largest Sonepur (Bihar)
V City, Most Populous Mumbai metropolis
V Corridor, Longest Rameshwaram Temple corridor (4,000 ft.)
V Desert, Largest Thar (Rajasthan)
V Dam, Longest Hirakud Dam (Odisha)
V Delta, Largest Sunderban’s Delta
 85

V Dome, Largest Gol Gumbaj (Bijapur)

V Dam, Highest Tehri Dam (260 m)
V Gateway, Highest Buland Darwaja at Fatehpur Sikri (176 ft.)
V Fresh Water Lake, Largest Wular Lake (Kashmir)
V Literacy, Highest Kerala (94%)
V Museum, Largest Indian Museum (Kolkata)
V Mosque, Biggest Jama Masjid (Delhi)
V Peak, Highest** K-2 (Pak-Occupied Kashmir)
V Platform, Longest At Gorakhpur, NE Railway (1335.4 mtrs)
V Railway Bridge, longest Vembanad Bridge, Kerala (4.6 km)
V River, Longest*** The Ganges (2525 Km)
V Rainfall, Highest (annual mean) Mowsynram near Cherrapunji (1178 cm)
V Road Longest Grand Trunk Road (1,500 miles)
V State, with maximum forest cover Madhya Pradesh
V State, with maximum density of population Bihar
V Telescope, Largest in Asia Vainu Bappu Telescope (at Kavalur: Chennai) 2.34m
V Tunnel, Longest (Road) Chenani-Nashri Tunnel (9.28 kms, J & K)
V Tunnel, Longest (Railway) Qazigund to Banihal (11.21 kms) Jammu & Kashmir.
V Tallest Minaret Qutub Minar (Delhi 72.5 m.)
V Waterfall, Highest Gersoppa Waterfall (Karnataka: 960 ft.)
V Zoo, Largest Zoological Gardens (Kolkata)

** Highest peak in the world is Mount Everest, which is in Nepal. K-2 is the second highest peak in the world. It is 8,611 metres high.
*** Indus and Brahmaputra (each 2900 km). Both of them, however, cover a long distance outside India.

TABLE OF PRECEDENCE
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Prime Minister
4. Governors of States within their respective states
5. Former Presidents
5A. Deputy Prime Minister
6. Chief Justice of India, Speaker of Lok Sabha
7. Cabinet Ministers of the Union, Chief Ministers of States within their respective States
Deputy Chairman NITI Aayog, former Prime Ministers
Leaders of opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
7A. Holders of the Bharat Ratna Decoration
8. Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and High Commissioners of Commonwealth
Countries accredited to India, Chief Ministers of States outside their respective States
9. Judges of the Supreme Court
10. Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chief Minister of States, Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha,
Members of the NITI Aayog, Minister of State of the Union and Other Minister in the Ministry of
Defence.
 86

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

FOREIGN INDIAN
Book Author Book Author
V As You Like It William Shakespeare V Ain-i-Akbari Abul Fazal
V A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens V Anand Math Bankim Chandra
V Ben Hur Lewis Wallace Chatterjee
V Das Kapital Karl Marx V Arthashastra Kautilya
V David Copperfield Charles Dickens V A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth
V Hamlet William Shakespeare V Bhagwat Gita Ved Vyas
V Iliad Homer V Chidambara Sumitranandan Pant
V Inferno A. Dante V Devdas Sarat Chandra Chatterjee
V In Memoriam Lord Tennyson V Discovery of India Jawaharlal Nehru
V Ivanhoe Walter Scott V Ganadevata Tarashankar
V Julius Caesar William Shakespeare Bandopadhyaya
V Geet Govind Jaya Dev
V Lady Chatterley’s D.H. Lawrence
V Geetanjali R. N. Tagore
Lover
V Glimpses of World Jawaharlal Nehru
V Lajja Taslima Nasreen
History
V Les Miserable Victor Hugo
V Godaan Prem Chand
V Leviathan Thomas Hobbes
V Gul-e-Nagma Firaq Gorakhpuri
V Lolita V. Nobokov
V Harsh Charita Bana Bhatta
V Lycidas John Milton
V India Divided Dr. Rajendra Prasad
V Mein Kampf Adolf Hitler
V Justice of Peace Janardan Prasad Singh
V Moor’s Last Sigh Salman Rushdie
ke Aansu
V Mother Maxim Gorky
V The Judgement Kuldip Nayyar
V Mother India Katherine Mayo
V Kadambari Bana Bhatta
V Nana Emile Zola
V Kagaz Te Kanwas Amrita Pritam
V Odyssey Homer
V Kamayani Jai Shankar Prasad
V Origin of Species Charles Darwin
V Kitni Nawon S. H. Vatsyayan
V Othello William Shakespeare Mein Kitni Bar
V Paradise Lost John Milton V Kumar Sambhav Kalidas
V Paradise Regained John Milton V Mahabharata Ved Vyas
V Path to Power Margaret Thatcher V Malgudi Days R.K. Narayan
V Pickwick Papers Charles Dickens V Meghdoot Kalidas
V Razor’s Edge Somerset Maugham V Mritunjaya B.K. Bhattacharya
V Republic Plato V Mudrarakshasa Vishakhadatta
V The Tempest William Shakespeare V Prison Diary Jaya Prakash
V Time Machine H.G. Wells Narayan
V Tom Sawyer Mark Twain V Raghuvansha Kalidas
V Treasure Island R.L. Stevenson V Rajtarangini Kalhana
V Twelfth Night William Shakespeare V Ramayana Balmiki
V Unto This Last John Ruskin V Ramcharit Manas Tulsidas
V Utopia Thomas More V Rukh Te Rishi Harbhajan Singh
V Wealth of Nations Adam Smith V Satyarth Prakash Swami Dayanand
V Wonder that A.L. Basham V Sur Sagar Surdas
was India V The Guide R.K. Narayan
 87

IMPORTANT DATES AND DAYS OF THE YEAR

V JANUARY V AUGUST
5-11 Road Safety Week 1-7 World Breast feeding Week
12 National Youth Day 10 Sanskrit Divas
15 Army Day 15 Independence Day
15-21 Pin Code Week 20 Sadbhavana Divas
23 National Day of Patriotism V SEPTEMBER
26 Republic Day 1-7 National Nutrition Week
30 Martyr's Day 5 Teachers' Day
V FEBRUARY 8 International Literary Day
1-14 Oil Conservation Fortnight 14 Hindi Diwas
14 Valentine's Day 23 World Deaf Day
V MARCH 27 World Tourism Day
4 National Safety Day V OCTOBER
8 International Women’s Day 2 Gandhi Jayanti
15 Consumers’ Day International Day of Non Violence
16 Immunisation Day
Anti-Leprosy Day
21 World Forest Day
4 World Animal Day
22 World Day for Water
6 World Habitat Day (Ist Monday)
24 World Meteorological Day
8 Indian Air Force Day
1-7 Preservation of Blindness W eek
14 World Standard Day
V APRIL
15 International Day of Rural Women
7 World Health Day
16 World Food Day
7-13 Handloom W eek
24 United Nations Day
14-20 Fire Service Week
27 Infantry Day
18 World Heritage Day
28 World Thrift Day
22 World Earth Day
31 Anti-Terrorism Day
V MAY
V NOVEMBER
1 May Day
2 All Saints Day
5 National Labour Day
14 Children’s Day
8 World Red Cross Day
15-21 National Cooperative W eek
11 National Technology Day
19-25 Quami Ekta Week
15 International Day of the Family
20 Child Rights Day
17 World Telecommunication Day
24 Commonwealth Day 26 Constitution Day
31 World No-Tobacco Day V DECEMBER
V JUNE 1 World AIDS Day
5 World Environment Day 3 World Day for the Disabled
21 World Yoga Day 4 Naval Day
26 International Day against Drug Abuse and 7 Flag Day
Illicit Trafficking 8 SMRC Day
V JULY 10 Human Rights Day
11 World Population Day 14 National Energy Conservation Day
 88

INDIAN DEFENCE
l The Supreme Command of the Armed Forces is Command HQ Location
vested in the hands of the President of the
Southern Command Pune
Country.
Central Command Lucknow
l The responsibility for national defence, however,
Training Command Shimla
rests with the Cabinet. All important questions
South-Western Command Jaipur
having a bearing on defence are decided by the
Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, which is Indian Air Force Commands
presided over by the Prime Minister.
Command HQ Location
l The Defence Minister is responsible to Parliament
for all matters concerning the Defence Services. Western Air Command New Delhi
Sout-Western Air Command Gandhinagar
l All the administrative and operational control of
Armed Forces are exercised by the Ministry of Central Air Command Allahabad
Defence. The three services—Army, Navy and Eastern Air Command Shillong
Air Force function through their respective Southern Air Command Thiruvananthapuram
service head-quarters headed by the chief of Staff. Training Command Bengaluru

Indian Army Commands Indian Navy Commands

Command HQ Location Command HQ Location

Eastern Command Kolkata Eastern Naval Command Vishakhapatnam
Western Command Chandigarh Western Naval Command Mumbai
Northern Command Udhampur Southern Naval Command Cochin

Commissioned Ranks in Defence Services

Army Navy Air Force
General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Lieutenant-General Vice-Admiral Air Marshal
Major-General Rear-Admiral Air Vice-Marshal
Brigadier Commodor Air Commodor
Colonel Captain Group Captain
Lieutenant-Colonel Commander Wing Commander
Major Lt.Commander Squadron Leader
Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Flying Officer

Internal Security Organisations of India

S. No. Name of Organisation Year of Creation Headquarters
1. Assam Rifles (A.R.) 1835 Shillong
2. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 1939 New Delhi
3. Territorial Army 1948 In different States
4. Indo-Tibetan Border Police 1962 New Delhi
5. Home Guard 1962 In different States
 89 (137) G.K.—12

S. No. Name of Organisation Year of Creation Headquarters

6. Coast Guard 1978 New Delhi
7. Border Security Force (B.S.F.) 1965 New Delhi
8. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 1969 New Delhi
9. National Security Guard 1984 New Delhi
10. Police — In different States

Army Institutes
1. Sainik Schools upto +2 Level 18 places in India
2. Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun
(prepare for entrance to N.D.A.)
3. National Defence Academy (three services) Khadakwasla, Pune
4. Indian Military Academy (Army) Dehradun
5. Officers Training Academy (3 services) Short Courses Chennai
6. National Defence College New Delhi
7. The College of Combat Mhow
8. The College of Military Engineering Kirkee
9. Military College of Telecommunication Engineering Mhow
10. The Armoured Corps Centre and School Ahmed Nagar
11. The School Artillery Deolali
12. The Infantry School Mhow and Belgaum
13. College of Material Management Jabalpur

Air Force Institutions

V Air Force Academy Hyderabad V Helicopter Training School Hakimpet
V Flying Instructors School Tambaram, Chennai V The College of Air Warfare Secunderabad
V Air Force Administrative College Coimbatore V Air Force Technical College Jalahalli

UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION (UNO)

l The United Nations (UN) is an association of l UN Charter: The Charter is the Constitution of
states which have pledged themselves to maintain the UNO and contains its aims and objectives
international peace and security and cooperate and rules and regulations for its functioning.
in solving international political, economic, social l Aims and Objectives: They are security, welfare
cultural and humanitarian problems towards and human rights.
achieving this end. l Headquarters: New York.
l Trygve Lie of Norway (1946-52) was the first l Flag: The flag is light blue in colour, and
Secretary-General of the UN. emblazoned in white, in its centre is the UN
symbol—a polar map of world embraced by twin
l Origin: UN Charter was signed by 50 members on olive branches open at the top.
June 26, 1945. Poland signed the charter later to
l Official Languages: The official languages of
become one of the original 51 member-states. It
the UN are: English, French, Chinese, Russian,
officially came into existence on October Arabic and Spanish. However, working languages
24, 1945. are English and French only.
 90

l Present Membership: At present 193 countries maintaining international peace and security.
are members of the UNO. South Sudan is the It has 15 members, 5 of which (USA, UK,
latest entrant to this world organisation. France, Russia and China) are permanent
l Main Organs of the UNO: There are six main members. The 10 non-permanent members are
organs: elected by General Assembly for two-year term
1. General Assembly and are not eligible for immediate re-election.
2. Security Council 3. Economic and Social Council: It has 54
members elected by General Assembly.
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship Council: It looks after interest of
4. Trusteeship Council
the people in areas not yet independent and
5. International Court of Justice, and leads them towards self-government.
6. Secretariat. 5. International Court of Justice: It has 15
1. General Assembly: It consists of representative judges, no two of whom may be nationals of
of all members of the UN. Each member country the same state. They are elected by General
has only one vote. It meets once a year and Assembly and Security Council for a term of
passes UN Budget. It is the main place for 9 years. The Court elects its President and
discussions and policy making in the UN. Vice-President for a 3-year term.
2. Security Council: It is the Executive body of 6. Secretariat: It is the Secretariat of the UN and
the UN and is mainly responsible for is headed by the Secretary General.

Some Important UN Agencies

UN Agencies Headquarters Year of

Establishment

V United Nations Organisations (U.N.O.) New York 1945

V International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) Washington D.C. 1945
V World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) Geneva 1948
V Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Rome 1945
V International Labour Organisation (ILO) Geneva 1919
V UNESCO Paris 1946
V Universal Postal Union (UPU) Berne 1874
V UNIDO Vienna 1966
V International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Vienna 1957
V United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) New York 1965
V UNICEF New York 1946
V International Maritime Organisation (IMO) London 1958
V World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Geneva 1950
V International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Geneva 1865
V World Trade Organisation (WTO) Geneva 1995
V International Development Association (IDA) Washington D.C. 1960
V World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Geneva 1967
 91

Famous International Organisations

International Organisations Headquarters Year of
Establishment
V International Court of Justice The Hague 1946
V International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Montreal 1947
V International Finance Corporation (IFC) Washington D.C 1956
V Arab League Cairo 1945
V Commonwealth of Nations London 1949
V International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) Washington D.C. 1945
V Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) 1969
V Red Cross Geneva 1863
V Interpol Lyons 1923
V Asian Development Bank (ADB) Manila 1966
V North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Brussels 1949
V Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Jakarta 1967
V South Asian Association for Regional Kathmandu 1985
Cooperation (SAARC)
V Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Singapore 1989
V Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Paris 1961
Development (OECD)
V Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Vienna 1960
V Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Minsk 1991
V International Olympic Committee (IOC) Lausanne (Switzerland) 1894
V European Union (EU) Brussels Changed form of
EEC Established
in 1958
V Amnesty International (AI) London 1961
V Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Beijing 2001
V BRICS Development Bank Shanghai 2014

AWARDS AND HONOURS

NATIONAL AWARDS l This is India’s highest civilian award. It is given

for exceptional work on art, literature, science
BHARAT RATANA and recognition of public service of the highest
l Bharat Ratna is India’s highest Civilian Award. order.
It was first awarded in 1954. l The emblem, the Sun and the rim are of platinum.
l The actual award is designed in the shape of a The inscriptions are in burnished bronze.
peepal leaf with Bharat Ratna inscribed in l Government servants are not eligible for it. The
Devanagri script in the Sun Figure. table shows the recipients of the award:
 92

Bharat Ratna Award Winners REPUBLIC DAY AWARDS

1. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan 1954 Padma Awards

2. C. Rajagopalachari 1954 They fall in line after the Bharat Ratna. They are
3. Dr. C.V. Raman 1954 also discontinued in 1977 along with the Bharat
4. Dr. Bhagwan Das 1955
Ratna and award was started again in 1980.
5. Dr. M. Visvesvaraya 1955
6. Jawahar Lal Nehru 1955 There are three Padma Awards:
7. Govind Ballabh Pant 1957 l Padma Vibhushan: This award is given for
8. Dr. D.K. Karve 1958 exceptional and distinguished service in any field,
9. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy 1961 including service rendered by Govt. servants.
10. Purushottam Das Tandon 1961
l Padma Bhushan: This award is given for
11. Dr. Rajendra Prasad 1962
12. Dr. Zakir Hussain 1963 distinguished service of a high order in any field,
13. Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane 1963 including service rendered by Govt. servants.
14. Lal Bahadur Shastri 1966 l Padma Shri: This award is given for distinguished
15. Indira Gandhi 1971 service in any field, including service rendered
16. V.V. Giri 1975 by Government servants.
17. K. Kamraj 1976
18. Mother Teresa 1980 Gallantry Awards
19. Acharya Vinoba Bhave 1983
l Param Vir Chakra: The highest award for
20. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan 1987
21. M.G. Ramachandran 1988
bravery or some daring and pre-eminent act of
22. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 1990 valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the
23. Dr. Nelson R. Mandela 1990 enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
24. Rajiv Gandhi 1991 l Mahavir Chakra: It is the second highest
25. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 1991 decoration and is awarded for acts of conspicuous
26. Morarji R. Desai 1991 gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether
27. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 1992
on land, at sea or in the air.
28. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhai Tata 1992
29. Satyajit Roy 1992 l Vir Chakra: It is the third in order of awards
30. Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda 1997 given for acts of gallantry in the presence of
31. Mrs. Aruna Asaf Ali 1997 enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
32. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 1998 l Ashok Chakra: This medal is awarded for the
33. M.S. Subbalakshmi 1998 most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-
34. C. Subramaniam 1998
eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice on land, at
35. Jaya Prakash Narayan 1999
36. Prof. Amartya Sen 1999
sea or in the air but not in the presence of enemy.
37. Pt. Ravi Shankar 1999 l Vishishta Sewa Medal: It is awarded to personnel
38. Gopinath Bardoloi 1999 of all the three Services in class I, II and III in
39. Lata Mangeshkar 2001 recognition of distinguished service of the “most
40. Bismillah Khan 2001 exceptional” and “exceptional” and a “high”
41. Bhimsen Joshi 2009 order respectively. Prefixes Parma and Ati are
42. C.N.R. Rao 2014 added before first two categories of medals
43. Sachin Tendulkar 2014
respectively.
44. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya 2015
45. Atal Bihari Vajpayee 2015 l Jeewan Raksha Padak: Awarded for meritorious
46. Pranab Mukherjee 2019 acts or a series of acts of a human nature displayed
47. Bhupen Hazarika 2019 in saving life from drowning, fire and rescue
48. Nanaji Deshmukh 2019 operations in mines etc.
 93

OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS l The following Indians so far have been awarded
these prizes:
(i) Dr. Rabindra Nath Tagore (1913) for his
SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARDS “Geetanjali”.
l These prizes are awarded annually to the authors (ii) Dr. C.V. Raman for Physics in 1930
of the most outstanding books of literary merit (iii) Mother Teresa for Peace in 1979,
published in each of the 24 languages recognised (iv) Prof. Amartya Sen in 1998 for Economics
by the Akademi. (v) Kailash Satyarthi in 2014 for Peace.
(vi) Abhijit Banerjee in 2019, for Economics
l There are also two awards for Sanskrit and
English. The award, in form of a casket containing GANDHI PEACE PRIZE
an inscribed copper plate and a cheque of l The government instituted this ` 1 crore prize on
` 1 lakh is given to the author or his/her heir. the lines of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.
l It is the highest Civilian International award by
DADA SAHEB PHALKE AWARD
the Govt. of India.
l The award carries a cash prize of ` 10 lakh, a
Shawl and Swarna Kamal. MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2020
l Mrs Devika Rani Roerich was the first person to l Scottish novelist and writer Douglas Stuart was
on November 19, 2020 awarded the prestigious
receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969.
Booker Prize for the year 2020 for his well-
l The award for 2019 has been given to famous acclaimed debut novel ‘Shuggie Bain’ set in the
actor Rajinikanth. background of his home city Glasgow in 1980s.
BHARATIYA JNANPITH AWARD INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE,
l Instituted in 22nd May, 1961, carries a cash DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
prize of ` 11 lakh, a citation and a bronze replica l The award was instituted in the memory of Mrs.
of Vagdevi (Saraswati). Indira Gandhi to foster creative cooperation
among nations of the world.
l Instituted by a literary organisation in India.
SARASWATI SAMMAN Highest Honours of Some Countries
l Given for outstanding literary works, value ` 15 Country Highest Honour
lakh.
India Bharat Ratna
KALINGA PRIZE Pakistan Nishan-e-Pakistan
l This award is given each year by the UNESCO Kuwait Mubarak-Al-kabir Medal
and founded by former Odisha Chief Minister Saudi Arabia Shah Abdul Aziz Medal
late Shri Biju Patnaik for popularisation of Argentina The Order of Sona Martin
science. Nicaragua Augusto-Caesar Sandino Order
Vietnam The Order of the Golden Star
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS Hungary The Order of Banner
Britain Member of British Empire,
NOBEL PRIZES Victoria Cross
l These Prizes were instituted in 1901 by a Swedish Japan Order of Moulovenice Sun
scientist, Dr. Alfred Nobel; the discoverer of Denmark Order of Diana Brog
Dynamite. France Legend of Honour
l Six prizes are awarded annually for (i) Chemistry, America Presidential Medal of Freedom
(ii) Physics, (iii) Medicine, (iv) Literature, (v) Peace Germany Pore Lee Merit Iron Cross
and (vi) Economics —started since 1969. The Netherlands Netherlands Lion
 94

SPORTS
OLYMPICS COMMONWEALTH GAMES
l First of all these games were held by the Greeks l The Commonwealth Games are held every four
in 776 B.C. on Mount Olympus in honour of the years, in the year in which Asian Games are held.
Greek God Zeus. In this way, the history of All the Commonwealth Countries (former
Olympic Games is about twenty eight hundred colonies of Britain) can take part in it.
years old. These games continued to be held every l The first Commonwealth Games were held in
four years until 394 A.D. when these games were 1930 at Hamilton (Canada).
stopped by a royal order of the emperor of Rome. l There are currently 54 members of the
l The modern Olympic Games which started in Commonwealth of Nations, and 71 teams
Athens in 1896, are the result of the devotion participated in the games.
and dedication of a French educator Baron Pierre l The 2018 Commonwealth Games officially known
de Coubertin and the first Olympic meet in the as the XXI Commonwealth Games or Gold Coast
modern series was held in 1896 in Athens, the 2018, which is held in Gold Coast, Queensland,
Capital of Greece. Since then, they are being held Australia, between 4 to 15 April 2018.
every four years except for breaks during world wars.
ASIAN GAMES
l The Olympic flag is white in colour with five
coloured rings, each ring symbolic of a continent. l After the Second World War, most of the Asian
Summer as well as Winter Olympics are held in Countries gained independence. On the lines of
Olympic Games, Asian Games were planned every
the same year.
four years.
l The 2016 Olympic Games was held at Rio de
l India hosted the first Asian Games in 1951.
Janeiro.
l The official Olympic Motto is Citius, Altius, WORLD CUP CRICKET
Swifter, Higher, Stronger. The Head Office of l The first Cricket World Cup was organised in
International Olympic Committee (IOC) is at England in 1975. A separate women’s Cricket
Lausanne (Switzerland). World Cup has been held every 4 years since 1973.
List of Cricket World Cup
Year Venue Winner/Runner
1975 England West Indies beat Australia
1979 England West Indies beat England
1983 England India beat West Indies
1987 India & Pakistan Australia beat England
1992 Australia Pakistan beat England
1996 India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka Sri Lanka beat Australia
1999 England Australia beat Pakistan
2003 South Africa Australia beat India
2007 West Indies Australia beat Sri Lanka
2011 India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh India beat Sri Lanka
2015 Australia, New Zealand Australia beat New Zealand
2019 England England beat New Zealand
2023 India (to be held)
 95

HOCKEY WORLD CUP V Bombay Gold Cup : Hockey

l The first Hockey World Cup was organised in V C.K. Naydu Trophy : Cricket
Barcelona (Spain) in 1971. Women’s Hockey V Deodhar Trophy : Cricket
World Cup has been held since 1974. V Duleep Trophy : Cricket
V Durand Cup : Football
FOOTBALL WORLD CUP
V Dhyan Chand Trophy : Hockey
l The Football World Cup is organised by FIFA
V Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy : Football (Junior)
(Federation of International Football Association).
V Ezra Cup : Polo
The World Cup is called ‘Jules Rimet Cup’
named after the name of FIFA President Jules V Guru Nanak Cup : Hockey
Rimet. The first Football World Cup was V Holkar Trophy : Bridge
organised in Uruguay in 1930. V Irani Trophy : Cricket
l In 1942 and 1946, the Football World Cup was V Indira Gold Cup : Hockey
not played due to World War II. V Murugappa Gold Cup : Hockey
l Brazil is the only nation to have participated in V Nehru Trophy : Hockey
every World Cup so far. The 2018 Football World V Nixan Gold Cup : Football
Cup held in Russia. France on July 15, 2018 V Rani Jhansi Trophy : Cricket
clinched their second FIFA World Cup title, V Ranji Trophy : Cricket
beating Croatia 4-2 in the highest-scoring final V Rangaswami Cup : Hockey
since 1996. V Ramanujan Trophy : Table Tennis
IMPORTANT CUPS & TROPHIES V Rene Frank Trophy : Hockey
V Rohinton Baria Trophy : Cricket
International V Rovers Cup : Football
V American Cup : Yacht Racing V Santosh Trophy : Football
V Ashes : Cricket V Subroto Cup : Football
V Davis Cup : Lawn Tennis
V Derby : Horse Race SPORTS TERMS
V Grand National : Horse Streple Chase V Badminton: Mixed doubles; Deuce; Drop;
Race Smash; Let; Foot work; Setting.
V Jules Rimet Trophy : World Soccer Cup V Base Ball: Pitcher; Put out, Strike; Home; Bunt.
V King’s Cup : Air Races V Billiards: Cue; Jigger; Pot; Break; In Baulk; In
V Merdeka Cup : Football Off; Cannons.
V Swaythling Cup : Table Tennis (Men) V Boxing: Upper cut; Round; Punch; Bout; Knock
V Ryder Cup : Golf down; Hitting below the belt; Ring.
V Thomas Cup : Badminton
V Bridge: Finesse; Dummy; Revoke; Grand Slam;
V U. Thant Cup : Tennis
Little Slam; No Trump; Rubber.
V Walker Cup : Golf
V Chess: Bishop, Gambit; Checkmate; Stalemate.
V Wightman Cup : Lawn Tennis
V Cricket: L.B.W. (leg before wicket); Creases,
V Rothman’s Trophy : Cricket
Popping-creases; Stumped; Bye; Leg-Bye;
V European Champions Cup : Football
V Grand Prix : Table Tennis Googly; Hattrick; Maiden over; Drive; Bowling;
V Edgbaston Cup : Lawn Tennis
Duck; Follow-on; No ball; Leg Break; Silly
point; Cover point; Hit-wicket; Late-cut; Slip;
V Grand Prix : Lawn Tennis
Off-spinner; In-swing.
National V Football: Off Side; Block; Drop-kick; Penalty-
V Agha Khan Cup : Hockey kick (or goal kick); Corner-kick; Free-kick;
V Beighton Cup : Hockey Dribble; Thrown-in; Foul.
 96

V Golf: Boggy; Foursome; Stymic; Tee; Put; Hole; Name of Sports Place
Niblic; Caddie; Links; The green; Bunker. Stadium
V Hockey: Carried; Short Corner; Bully; Sticks; White City Dog-race England
Off side; Roll in; Striking Circle; Under-cutting; Aintree Horse-race England
Dribble. Tentbridge Cricket England
V Horse racing: Jockey; Punter. Patnee Martlake Boat-race England
Tibankham Rugby England
V Polo: Bunker; Chukker; Mallet.
Football
V Tennis: Back hand drive; Volley; Smash; Half- Sandy Lodge Golf Scotland
volley; Deuce; Service; Let; Grand Slam. Forest Hill Tennis New York
Stadiums and Places Brooklyn Baseball New York
Associated with Sports Melbourne Cricket Australia

Name of Sports Place Name of Playing Compound of

Stadium Different Games
Arun Jaitley Stadium Cricket Delhi Name of Related Sports
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Athletics Delhi Compound
Shivajee Stadium Hockey Delhi
Court Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Netball,
National Stadium Hockey etc. Delhi Hand ball, Volleyball, Squash, Kho-
Ambedkar Stadium Football Delhi Kho, Kabaddi
Brabourne Stadium Cricket Mumbai Diamond Baseball
Wankhede Stadium Cricket Mumbai Ring Boxing, Skating, Wrestling, Circus,
National Stadium Hockey etc. Mumbai Riding display
Eden Garden Cricket Kolkata Course Golf
Green Park Stadium Cricket Kanpur Board Table Tennis
Keenan Stadium Cricket Jamshedpur
Pool Swimming
Nehru (Chepauk) Stadium Cricket Chennai
Alley Bowling
Barabati Stadium Cricket Cuttack
Mat Judo, Karate II
Lords, Oval, Leeds Cricket Britain
Hedingle Manchester Cricket Britain Arena Horse Riding
Black Heath Rugby London Vellodrum Cycling
Football Field Polo, Football, Hockey
Henley Boat race England Track Athletics
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis London Pitch Cricket, Rugby
Wembley Stadium Football London Rink Ice Hockey

p p p
 97

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct 6. At a time when empires in Europe were
answer from the codes given below the lists: crumbling before the might of Napoleon
List-I which one of the following Governor-Generals
(a) Napoleon Bonaparte kept the British flag flying high in India?
(b) Jean Jacques Rousseau A. Warren Hastings B. Lord Cornwallis
(c) Croce C. Lord Wellesley D. Lord Hastings
(d) Madame Roland 7. Which one of the following statements
List-II regarding Fascism in Italy is not true?
1. ‘A history is contemporary history’ A. The Fascists came to power as a result of
2. ‘Liberty what crimes are committed in thy popular uprising
name’ B. In 1926, all political parties except
3. ‘Man is born free but everywhere he is in Mussolini’s party were banned
chains.’ C. The Fascists suppressed the Socialist
4. ‘I am the Child of Revolution’ movement
Codes : D. The Fascists were hostile to the
(a) (b) (c) (d) Communists
A. 1 2 3 4
8. The fall of Czar Nicholas-II is known as:
B. 4 3 1 2
A. Bloody Sunday
C. 3 4 2 1 B. Bolshevik Revolution
D. 3 4 1 2 C. February Revolution
2. Abraham Lincon was elected the President of D. October Revolution
United States in: 9. Industrial Revolution took place first in:
A. 1862 B. 1860 A. France B. Germany
C. 1875 D. 1855 C. United Kingdom D. Japan
3. Who was known as the ‘Prince of Humanists’? 10. The British Prime Minister at the outbreak of
A. Francisco Petrarch B. Dante World War II was :
C. Boccacio D. Erasmus A. Churchill B. Baldwin
4. D-Day is the day when: C. Attlee D. Chemberlain
A. Germany declared war on Britain 11. The ‘Great Depression’ (1929) economic crisis
B. US dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima. was met by adopting the policy of
C. Allied Troops landed in Normandy A. Stimulus B. Marshall Plan
D. Germany surrendered to the allies C. New Deal D. Open Door
5. Whose teachings inspired the French 12. The slogan “No taxation without
Revolution? representation” was raised during the:
A. Locke A. American War of Independence
B. Rousseau B. Russian Revolution
C. Hegel C. French Revolution
D. Plato D. Indian Freedom struggle
97 (137) G.K.—13
 98 (137) G.K.—13-II

13. In the nineteenth century the people of Europe 20. Which one of the following statements is not
started moving from the villages to the cities correct?
due to the impact of : A. Voltaire believed in Natural Religion
A. Epidemics B. Rousseau wrote Social Contract
B. War C. Montesquieu authored The Spirit of Laws
C. Industrialisation D. Necker believed in ‘General Will’
D. Population explosion in villages 21. 6th April, 1930 is well known in the history
14. The important cause of the Civil War in of India because this date is associated
America was: with...........
A. Abolition of slavery A. Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi
B. Quest for freedom B. Quit India Movement
C. Industrialisation C. Partition of Bengal
D. Rebellion by the native Americans D. Partition of India
15. Industrial Revolution could not have come 22. Which ruler enforced the system of ‘Price
about without: Control’ in India?
A. Merchant capitalism A. Mohammad Tughlak
B. The Enclosure Movement B. Razia Begum
C. The services of the proletariat class C. Alauddin Khilji
D. An agricultural revolution D. Sher Shah Suri
16. Consider the following statements : 23. The concept of ‘Din-e-Elahi’ was founded by
The French Revolution came about mainly which king?
due to the : A. Dara Shikoh B. Akbar
1. Extreme poverty of the people C. Sher Shah Suri D. Shahjahan
2. Impact of the works of great writers 24. Who are supposed to be the earliest inhabi-
3. Cruelty of the rulers tants of India? Where did they come from?
4. Impact of impulsive reaction A. Aryans from Central Asia
Which of the above statements are correct? B. Dravidians from Mediterranean
A. 1, 2 and 4 B. 2 and 3 C. Negroids from Africa
C. 1, 3 and 4 D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 D. Bhils and the Santhals from West Asia
17. Asia’s oldest and largest Buddhist monastery 25. The one chief characteristic of temple
is situated in : architecture of the Gupta Age was :
A. Tawang (Arunachal Pardesh) A. Absence of dome
B. Lhasa (Tibet) B. Huge size
C. Trincomallee (Sri Lanka) C. Beautiful carvings
D. Ulan Bator (Mongolia) D. absence of a covered courtyard for the
18. Who was the main architect of the Russian gathering of worshippers
Revolution? 26. The Rigveda consists of :
A. Karl Marx B. Lenin A. 1000 hymns B. 2028 hymns
C. Stalin D. Tolstoy C. 1028 hymns D. 1038 hymns
19. V.I. Lenin is associated with : 27. The central point in Ashoka’s dharma was :
A. Russian Revolution of 1917 A. royalty to kings
B. Chinese Revolution of 1949 B. peace and non-violence
C. German Revolution C. respect to elders
D. French Revolution of 1789 D. religious tolerance
 99

28. The social evil which was conspicuously 35. The Simon Commission was generally
absent during ancient India was : boycotted by the Indian political parties.
A. Sati-System B. Devadasi-System What was the reason for this general non-
C. Polygamy D. Purdah-System cooperation?
A. the Commission aimed at dividing the
29. Which, among the following, can be accepted
people
as a novelty introduced by Mughal emperors B. it was an ‘all white’ Commission
to their buildings? C. it came after the Jallianwala Bagh carnage
A. Domes B. Minarets D. it was an eye wash
C. Arches D. Attached gardens
36. Aligarh Muslim University was founded by :
30. The first ruler of India who defeated A. Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlu
Muhammud of Ghur was : B. Mohammad Ali Jinnah
A. Mularaja II of Gujarat C. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
B. Prithviraja Chauhan of Delhi D. Maulana Mohammad Ali
C. Jayachand of Kannauj
D. Parmaldeva of Bundelkhand 37. Ibn Batutah was an African traveller visiting
India during the time of :
31. What important event happened in India in A. Alivardi Khan
1911? B. Ala-ud-din Khalji
A. Bengal was partitioned C. Iltutmish
B. Non-Cooperation movement was launched D. Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
C. India’s capital was shifted from Calcutta
38. The battle of Wandiawash was fought in :
to Delhi
A. 1726 B. 1760
D. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the
C. 1818 D. 1857
Congress session
39. The abolition of Sati by government
32. The first phase of the Congress Party (1885- regulation was at the time of :
1905) was characterized by its efforts to A. Warren Hastings B. Lord Wellesley
secure: C. Lord Bentinck D. Lord Ahmerst
A. limited independence
B. complete freedom 40. Pick out the wrong combination :
C. Indianization of services A. Dilwara Temple : Mt. Abu
D. constitutional reforms B. Pashupati Temple : Kathmandu
C. Padmanabh Temple : Bangalore
33. The Muslim League demanded a separate D. Minakshi Temple : Madurai
homeland for the Indian Muslims openly for
the first time at its annual session held in 41. Match the following:
Lahore in the year : (a) Chanhudaro (b) Kalibangan
(c) Lothal (d) Surkotada
A. 1931 A.D. B. 1936 A.D.
1. Alleged discovery of the skeleton of horse.
C. 1940 A.D. D. 1941 A.D.
2. Bead making.
34. Under whose governorship did the East India 3. Traces of a dock and ship on seal.
Company secure the Diwani Rights in Bengal, 4. Evidence of ploughing the fields.
Bihar and Odisha from Emperor Shah The Correct code is :
Alam? (a) (b) (c) (d)
A. Lord Cornwallis A. 2 4 3 1
B. Lord William Bentinck B. 2 1 3 4
C. Lord Clive C. 1 2 3 4
D. Lord Wellesley D. 2 1 4 3
 100

42. Match the Harappan settlements with the 47. Who among the following patronised the
banks of rivers on which they were located : ‘Gandhara’ (Indo-Greek style) School of Art?
(a) Harappa 1. Ravi A. Ashoka, the Great
(b) Mohenjodaro 2. Indus B. Harsha Vardhana
(c) Ropar 3. Sutlej C. Kanishka
(d) Kalibangan 4. Ghaggar D. Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(e) Lothal 5. Bhogava
48. The Sultanate of Delhi had five ruling
Codes :
dynasties. The dynasty having longest and
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
shortest period were :
A. 1 2 3 4 5
A. Ilbari and Khalji
B. 1 2 3 5 4
B. Tughlaq and Khalji
C. 2 1 3 5 4
D. 2 1 4 3 5 C. Tughlaq and Sayyid
D. Ilbari and Lodis
43. The Goddess ‘Kannagi’ whose many temples
were erected during the ‘Sangam Age’ was the 49. Which one of the following events took place
goddess of : at the last during reign of Muhammad-bin-
A. Chastity B. Love Tughlaq?
C. Prowess D. Wisdom A. Introduction of token currency
B. Increase of land-revenue in Doab
44. The Jain goal of life is to attain deliverance C. Transfer of Capital from Delhi to Devagiri.
from the fetters of mudane existence, the way D. Conquest of Khurasan and Iraq
to which lies through three jewels. Which one
of the following was not included among the 50. The most learned medieval Muslim ruler who
‘three jewels’ of Jainism? was well versed in various branches of learning
A. Right faith B. Right action including astronomy, mathematics and
C. Right knowledge D. Right conduct medicine was :
A. Jalaluddin Khilji
45. The most striking feature of the Ashokan pillar B. Sikander Lodi
is polish. Name the Ashokan pillar which is C. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
considered to be the most graceful of all D. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Ashokan pillars.
A. Sarnath 51. The ‘Sufis’ had 12 silsilas. They propounded
B. Rampurva the idea of Union with God through:
C. Laurya-Nandangarh A. Love B. Rituals
D. Rummindei C. Fasts D. Prayers
46. Which are the correct statements? 52. Match the following:
1. The land grants, started in Satavahana (a) Peshwa 1. Foreign affairs
period, paved the way for feudal (b) Panditrao 2. Audit and accounts
developments in India. (c) Amatya 3. Providing grants to scholars
2. Silk and spices were the Chief Indian export (d) Sumant 4. General supervision
articles of Indo-Roman trade. 5. Military affairs
3. The Guptas issued the largest number of Select the correct code :
gold coins in ancient India. (a) (b) (c) (d)
4. The first memorial of a ‘SATI’ dated 510 A. 2 3 4 5
A.D. is found at Eran in Madhya Pradesh. B. 4 1 2 3
A. 1 and 2 B. 1, 3, and 4 C. 4 3 2 1
C. 1 and 4 D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 D. 3 1 4 2
 101

53. The Regulating Act of 1773 can be regarded 59. Dyarchy means :
as the first measure to : A. double government
A. assert the right of British Parliament to B. a government in which the centre is very
legislate for India powerful
B. separate the legislature from the executive C. a government based on division of power
C. separate the judiciary from the executive between centre and provinces
D. centralise law-making D. None of the above
54. What was the exact constitutional status of 60. The Indian National Congress observed
the Indian Republic on 26th January, 1950? ‘Independence Day’ for the first time on 26th
A. A Democratic Republic January in :
B. A Sovereign, Democratic Republic A. 1920 B. 1925
C. A Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic C. 1930 D. 1947
D. A Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic 61. .............is situated near the banks of Sabarmati
Republic
River
55. When the British obtained the grant of Diwani A. Bhavnagar B. Aurangabad
of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha they acquired C. Ahmedabad D. Rajkot
the right to :
62. Sericulture is:
A. maintain law and order in these territories
A. science of the various kinds of serum
B. administer civil justice and collect revenue B. artificial rearing of fish
in these territories
C. art of silkworm breeding
C. collect revenue and establish revenue D. study of various cultures of a community
administration in these territories
D. militarily defend these territories 63. The most abundant constituents of earth’s crust
are:
56. Which of the following were responsible for
A. Igneous rocks
the growth of nationalism in India during the B. Sedimentary rocks
British rule? C. Metamorphic rocks
1. Economic exploitation of India.
D. Granite
2. Impact of western education.
3. Role of the Press. 64. Indian Standard Time is based on:
Select the correct answer using the codes given A. 80oE longitude B. 82½oE longitude
below : C. 110oE longitude D. 25oE longitude
Codes: 65. Tides in the oceans are caused by :
A. 1, 2 and 3 B. 1 and 2 A. Gravitational pull of the moon on the
C. 2 and 3 D. 1 and 3 earth’s surface including sea water
57. Which one of the following nationalist leaders B. Gravitational pull of the sun on the earth’s
has been described as being radical in politics surface only and not on the sea water
but conservative on social issues? C. Gravitational pull of the moon and the
A. G.K. Gokhale sun on the earth’s surface including the
B. B.G. Tilak sea water
C. Lala Lajpat Rai D. None of these
D. Madan Mohan Malviya 66. Nagarjunasagar Project is situated on the river:
58. Provincial Autonomy in British India was A. Tungabhadra
envisaged by the : B. Cauvery
A. Act of 1909 B. Act of 1919 C. Krishna
C. Act of 1935 D. Act of 1947 D. Godavari
 102

67. The difference between the Indian Standard 74. During the period of south-west monsoon,
Time and the Greenwich Mean Time is: Tamil Nadu remains dry because:
A. – 3½ hours B. + 3½ hours A. the winds do not reach this area
C. – 5½ hours D. + 5½ hours B. there are no mountains in this area
C. it lies in the rain shadow area
68. Which of the following dams is not on
D. the temperature is too high to let the winds
Narmada river?
cool down
A. Indira-Sagar Project
B. Maheshwar Hydel Power Project 75. Which country does top in producing cocoa?
C. Jobat Project A. Ghana B. Brazil
D. Koyna Power Project C. Ivory Coast D. Nigeria
69. Which of the following statements is not true 76. The biggest reserves of thorium are in :
about the availability of water on the earth, A. India B. China
the crisis for which is going to increase in the C. The Soviet Union D. U.S.A.
years to come? 77. The Girnar Hills are situated in which of the
A. About 97.5 per cent of the total volume of following states?
water available on the earth is salty A. Gujarat B. Karnataka
B. 80 per cent of the water available to us for C. Madhya Pradesh D. Maharashtra
use comes in bursts as monsoons
78. During December 22nd the sun is vertically
C. About 2.5 per cent of the total water
over:
available on the earth is polluted water
A. Tropic of Cancer
and cannot be used for human activities
B. Tropic of Capricorn
D. Possibility is that some big glaciers will
C. The Equator
melt in the coming ten-fifteen years and
D. None of the above
sea level will rise by 3-4 metres all over
the earth 79. Photosphere is described as the :
A. Lower layer of atmosphere
70. Which of the following is not a cash crop?
B. Visible surface of the sun from which
A. Jute B. Paddy radiation emanates
C. Cashewnut D. Sugarcane C. Wavelength of solar spectrum
71. Through which States does Cauvery River D. None of the above
flow? 80. Broadly, there are three layers of the earth of
A. Gujarat, M.P., Tamil Nadu the crust, the mantle and the core. The crust
B. Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu forms what percentage of the volume of the
C. Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh earth?
D. M.P., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu A. 0.5% B. 2.5%
72. Indian Standard Time is the local time of C. 7.5% D. 12.5%
82½oE which passes through : 81. The grassland of Argentina is known as :
A. Guntur B. Delhi A. Pampas B. Campos
C. Allahabad D. Kolkata C. Savanna D. None of the above
73. The 17th parallel defines the boundary 82. Different seasons are formed because :
between: A. Sun is moving around the earth
A. North and South Korea B. of revolution of the earth around the Sun
B. USA and Canada on its orbit
C. North and South Vietnam C. of rotation of the earth around its axis
D. China and Russia D. All of the above
 103

83. Eskers and Drumlins are features formed by: (c) Himanchal 3. Middle Himalayas
A. underground water (d) Sahyadri 4. Western Ghats
B. running water Codes:
C. the action of wind (a) (b) (c) (d)
D. glacial action A. 1 2 3 4
B. 4 2 3 1
84. Match List-I and List-II and select the correct
C. 2 1 3 4
answer using the codes given below the Lists :
D. 1 2 3 4
List-I List-II
(Rivers) (Towns) 89. The term ‘Regur’ refers to:
(a) Ghaghara 1. Lucknow A. Laterite soils
(b) Brahmaputra 2. Hoshangabad B. Black Cotton soils
(c) Narmada 3. Ahmedabad C. Red Soils
(d) Sabarmati 4. Guwahati D. Deltaic Alluvial Soils
5. Ayodhya 90. Location of sugar industry in India is shifting
(a) (b) (c) (d) from north to south because of:
A. 4 5 1 2 A. cheap labour
B. 5 4 2 3 B. expanding regional market
C. 5 4 3 1 C. cheap and abundant supply of power
D. 3 5 2 1 D. high yield and high sugar content in
85. Which of the statements as regards the sugarcane
consequences of the movement of the earth is 91. Consider the following statements :
not correct? 1. Ozone is found mostly in the Stratosphere.
A. Revolution of the earth is the cause of the 2. Ozone layer lies 55-75 km above the
change of seasons. surface of the earth.
B. Rotation of the earth is the cause of days 3. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from
and nights. the Sun.
C. Rotation of the earth causes variation in 4. Ozone layer has no significance for life on
the duration of days and nights. the earth.
D. Rotation of the earth effects the movement Which of the above statements are correct?
of winds and ocean currents. A. 1 and 3 B. 2 and 4
C. 2 and 3 D. 1 and 4
86. The world is divided into :
A. 12 time zones 92. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct
B. 20 time zones answer using the codes given below the Lists :
C. 24 time zones List-I List-II
D. 36 time zones (Crops) (Producer)
(a) Banana 1. Brazil
87. The ‘Kiel’ canal links the : (b) Cocoa 2. Cote d’Ivoire
A. Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (c) Coffee 3. India
B. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea (d) Tea 4. China
C. Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea Codes :
D. North Sea and Baltic Sea (a) (b) (c) (d)
88. Match the following : A. 2 3 1 4
List-I List-II B. 3 2 1 4
(a) Himadri 1. Outer Himalayas C. 3 2 4 1
(b) Shivalik 2. Inner Himalayas D. 2 3 4 1
 104

93. Darjeeling and Dharamsala would be the right 102. In a developed economy the major share of
places to visit if one wanted to get a clear employment originates in the :
view respectively of : A. primary sector B. tertiary sector
A. Kanchanjunga and Dhauladhar ranges C. secondary sector D. any of the above
B. Nandadevi and Dhauladhar ranges
103. The Economic and Social Commission for
C. Kanchanjunga and Nandadevi ranges
Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) is located at :
D. Nandadevi and Nanga Parvat
A. Bangkok B. Kuala Lumpur
94. Atmosphere exists because: C. Manila D. Singapore
A. The Gravitational force of the Earth
104. Commercial vehicles are not produced by
B. Revolution of the Earth
which of the following companies in India?
C. Rotation of the Earth
A. TELCO B. Ashok Leyland
D. Weight of the gases of atmosphere
C. DCM Daewoo D. Birla Yamaha
95. Victoria lake is located in the continent:
105. In India, the Public Sector is most dominant
A. Africa
in:
B. Asia
A. transport
C. North America
B. steel production
D. South America
C. commercial banking
96. The famous Lagoon Lake of India is : D. organised term-lending financial
A. Dal Lake B. Chilka Lake institutions
C. Pulicat Lake D. Mansarover
106. The main argument advanced in favour of
97. Where are most of the earth’s active volcanoes small scale and cottage industries in India is
concentrated? that:
A. Indian Ocean B. Pacific Ocean A. cost of production is low
C. Aral Sea D. Atlantic Ocean B. they require small capital investment
98. Through which of the following states does C. they advance the goal of equitable
the river Chambal flow? distribution of wealth
A. U.P., M.P., Rajasthan D. they generate a large volume of
B. M.P., Gujarat, U.P. employment
C. Rajasthan, M.P., Bihar 107. The most serious economic problems of India
D. Gujarat, M.P., U.P. are:
99. Which country is called the sugar bowl of the A. Poverty and unemployment
world? B. Stagnation, not poverty
A. Cuba B. India C. Unemployment, not poverty
C. Argentina D. USA D. Underdevelopment, not poverty
100. The area covered by forest in India as per 108. Which of the following is not one of the three
ISFR-2019 is: central problems of an economy?
A. 46% B. 33% A. What to produce
C. 21.67% D. 25.50% B. How to produce
C. When to produce
101. A closed economy is the one which :
D. For whom to produce
A. does not permit emigration or immigration
B. permits emigration but no immigration 109. Gender Responsive Budgeting has been
C. engages in no foreign trade adopted in India in the year:
D. engages in no foreign and domestic trade A. 2017 B. 2004
or transit C. 2014 D. 2005
 105 (137) G.K.—14

110. In which of the following industries in India 118. Which of the following statements best
are the maximum number of workers explains the term contraband goods?
employed? A. Goods produced only for exports
A. Sugar B. Jute B. Goods produced in joint sector only
C. Textiles D. Iron and Steel C. Goods for the trading of which licence is
111. Terrace Cultivation is practiced mostly: not required
A. in urban areas D. Goods that are forbidden, from export,
B. on slopes of mountains import or even possession, by law
C. on tops of hills 119. Price in the market is fixed by:
D. in undulating tracts A. Stock exchange rates
112. Which of the following is a Selective Credit B. The demand and supply ruling in the
Control method? market at a particular time
A. Bank Rate C. The Finance Minister
B. RBI directives D. None of the above
C. Cash Reserve Ratio 120. Devaluation of currency helps to promote:
D. Open market operations A. National Income
113. Which of the following taxes is not shared by B. Savings
the Central Government with the States? C. Imports at lower cost
A. Union excise duties D. Exports
B. Customs duty 121. Balanced economic growth can be achieved
C. Income tax only if:
D. Estate duty A. All the sectors of economy grow at the
114. ICICI is the name of a: same rate
A. Financial Institution B. Population growth is arrested
B. Chemical Industry C. All the inter dependent sectors grow in
C. Cotton Industry harmony
D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry D. Basic and heavy industries are assigned
highest priority
115. Structural Unemployment arises due to
A. Deflationary conditions 122. Which one of the following contributes most
B. Heavy industry bias to the National Income in India?
C. Shortage of raw material A. Service Sector
D. Inadequate productive capacity B. Industrial Sector
C. Foreign Trade Sector
116. Which of the following is the largest single
D. Agricultural Sector
source of the government’s earning from tax
revenue? 123. IMF is the result of:
A. Excise duties A. Brettonwood conference
B. Customs duties B. Rome conference
C. Corporation tax C. Geneva conference
D. Income tax D. Hawana conference
117. The largest public sector bank in India is: 124. Largest revenue in India is obtained from:
A. Central Bank of India A. Excise duties
B. Punjab National Bank B. Corporation tax
C. State Bank of India C. Income tax
D. Indian Overseas Bank D. None of the above
 106

125. The term ‘devaluation’ means: 134. The ‘Relative Deprivation’ approach for
A. Reducing the value of a currency in terms measuring poverty has been adopted by:
of another currency A. developing countries
B. Increasing the value of a currency B. developed countries
C. Revising the value of a currency C. under-developed countries
D. None of the above D. None of the above
126. Per capita net availability of pulses has shown 135. One of the main factors that led to rapid
a tendency of: expansion of Indian exports is:
A. Increase over time A. Imposition of import duties
B. Decrease over time B. Liberalisation of the economy
C. Constant over time C. Recession in other countries
D. First increase then decrease D. Diversification of exports
127. National Income is the same as: 136. Sustainable economic development means an
A. Net national product at market price
increase in the rate of growth of real:
B. Net domestic product at market price
A. total and per capita product
C. Net national product at factor cost
B. total and per capita product and level of
D. Net domestic product at factor cost
literacy rate
128. Which one of the following is not an example C. total and per capita product and life
of indirect tax? expectancy at birth
A. Sales tax B. Excise duty D. total and per capita product, taking into
C. Customs duty D. Expenditure tax account the cost of degradation of the
129. The major aim of devaluation is to: quality of environment in this process
A. encourage imports 137. Functional unemployment occurs when:
B. encourage exports A. unemployed have no qualification for job
C. encourage both exports and imports B. people frequently change their job
D. discourage both exports and imports C. people were thrown out from job due to
130. Structural unemployment arises due to: recession
A. deflationary conditions D. None of these
B. heavy industry bias
138. Which among the following does not have a
C. shortage of raw materials
D. inadequate productive capacity ‘free trade zone’?
A. Kandla B. Mumbai
131. When was the Family Planning Programme C. Visakhapatnam D. Thiruvanantpuram
officially started in India?
A. 1950 B. 1952 139. Sun Belt of USA is important for which one
C. 1956 D. 1962 of the following industries?
A. Cotton textile
132. When was the Reserve Bank of India B. Petrochemicals
nationalised? C. Hi-tech electronics
A. 1947 B. 1949 D. Food Processing
C. 1950 D. 1951
140. Commercial banking system in India is
133. Which of the following is not a feature of the
A. unit banking B. branch banking
Indian economy?
C. mixed banking D. None of the above
A. High rate of population growth
B. Disguised unemployment 141. Who gives recognition to political parties in
C. Lowest rate of adult literacy India?
D. High rate of exports A. Parliament
 107

B. President C. he can consult the Supreme Court on any

C. Supreme Court question of law or fact which is of public
D. Election Commission importance
D. he can grant pardon, reprieves and respites
142. The Quorum of the Legislative Council is :
to persons punished under Union Law
A. one-fourth of its total membership
B. one-third of its membership 147. The Vice-president of India can be removed
C. one-tenth of its membership from his office before the expiry of his term
D. 25 if :
A. the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a
143. The Indian Constitution is: majority of its members and the Lok Sabha
A. federal agrees with the resolution
B. unitary B. if the Supreme Court of India recommends
C. a happy mixture of the federal and unitary his removal
D. federal in normal times and unitary in times C. the President so desires
of emergency D. None of the above
144. Universal adult franchise implies a right to 148. The Chief Justice of a High Court in India is
vote to all: appointed by the :
A. adult residents of the State A. Governor of the State
B. adult male citizens of the State B. Prime Minister of India
C. residents of the State C. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
D. adult citizens of the State D. President of India
145. When a resolution prefering a charge against 149. Which of the following statements is constitu-
the President has been passed by a specified tionally not true about the passing of the
majority in the House, it is sent to the other Union Budgets and Finance Bill in India?
House for investigation. If, as a result of such 1. Under the law, Finance Bill should be
an investigation, a resolution is passed through adopted by both the Houses of the
a specified majority by the other House, Parliament within 45 days of its
declaring that the charge has been sustained, introduction.
the President shall leave his office. The 2. If the Finance Bill is not adopted within
specified special majority must not be less specified period, the government loses its
than : authority to levy the taxes proposed in the
A. two-third of the members present and budgets.
voting 3. In the absence of full budget, a vote-on-
B. one-third of the members present and account gives the power to the government
voting to spend.
C. three-fourth of the members present and 4. Government cannot raise revenues without
voting and two-third of the total a proper approval of the Finance Bill
membership A. Only 2 B. Only 3
D. two-third of the total membership C. Only 4 D. Only 1, 2 and 3
146. Which one of the following judicial powers 150. Normally, on whose advice the President’s
of the President of India has been wrongly Rule is imposed in a State?
listed? A. Chief Minister
A. he appoints the Chief Justice and other B. Legislative Assembly
judges of the Supreme Court C. Governor
B. he can remove the judges of the Supreme D. Chief Justice of High Court
Court on grounds of misconduct
 108

151. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals B. obligatory for the President to accept the
with Amendment procedure? advice of the Council of Ministers
A. Article 368 B. Article 358 C. not obligatory for the President to seek or
C. Article 367 D. All of these accept the advice of the Council of
152. Government is the agency through which the Ministers
will of : D. obligatory for the President to seek the
A. the state is expressed advice of the Council of Ministers if his
B. the people is expressed own party is in power
C. the head of the state is expressed 159. Which one of the following statements is
D. the majority is expressed correct?
153. In a unitary system of government : A. the Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha is
A. The centre is all powerful elected every year
B. The centre is weaker than the states B. the Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha is
C. The centre and states stand at par elected for a term of two years at a time
D. The states and centre are supreme in their C. the Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha is
respective spheres elected for a term of six years
154. In Cabinet System of Government the real D. the Vice-President of India is the ex-officio
executive authority rests with : Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha
A. The Council of Ministers 160. The introduction of “no confidence” motion
B. The Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha requires the support of at
C. The Constitution least:
D. The Parliament
A. 50 members B. 70 members
155. The Head of the State under a parliamentary C. 60 members D. 80 members
government:
161. The High Court comes under :
A. is an elected representative
B. is a hereditary person A. State List B. Union List
C. is a nominated person C. Concurrent List D. None of the above
D. may be any one of the above 162. Which one of the following has been wrongly
156. In the event of a ministerial proposal being listed as a Fundamental Duty of the Indian
defeated on the floor of the legislature, under citizens?
the parliamentary system : A. to develop scientific temper, humanism
A. the government waits for a general no- and spirit of inquiry and reform
confidence motion B. to work for raising the prestige of the
B. the minister concerned is taken to task by country in the international sphere
the Prime Minister C. to protect and improve the natural
C. the minister is forced to resign environment
D. the whole Council of Ministers resign D. to strive towards excellence in all spheres
157. The “due process of law” is an essential of individual and collective activity
characteristic of the judicial system of: 163. Which one of the following is not a
A. UK B. France Fundamental Duty as outlined in Article 51A
C. USA D. India of the Constitution?
158. Under the Constitution it is : A. to abide by the Constitution and respect
A. obligatory for the President to accept the its ideals
advice of the Council of Ministers but is B. to defend the country and render national
not obliged to follow it service when called upon to do so
 109

C. to work for the moral upliftment of the 168. Which of the following is not a formally
weaker sections of society prescribed device available to the members of
D. to preserve the rich heritage parliament?
A. Question hour
164. The main characteristics of the Directive
B. Zero hour
Principles of State Policy given in the Indian
C. Half-an-hour discussion
Constitution are :
D. Short duration discussion
A. not enforceable by any court
B. fundamental in the governance of the 169. Which of the following is not a tool of
country executive control over public administration?
C. ‘Like instruments, instructions, political A. Power of appointment and removal
manifesto and a code of moral precepts B. Line agencies
which have to guide governors of the C. Appeal to public opinion
country’ D. Civil services code
D. no law can be passed, which is opposed to 170. If the Speaker of the State Legislative
these principles Assembly decides to resign, he should submit
165. Of the following which are true? his resignation to the:
A. In a State, the Legislative Council is A. Judges of the High Court
dominant with regard to non-financial bills B. Deputy Speaker
and the Legislative Assembly with regard C. Chief Minister
to financial (money) bills D. Finance Minister
B. Vidhan Parishad can virtually block 171. The Constitution of India provides for the
legisla-tion even if the same is passed by nomination of two members of Lok Sabha by
the Vidhan Sabha the President to represent:
C. In case of a tie between the two Houses, A. the Parsis
the Governor is duty-bound to call a joint B. men of eminence
session of the two Houses to have the issue C. the business community
settled on a majority verdict D. the Anglo-Indian community
D. If a Bill is twice approved by the Vidhan 172. India is a Federal State because of:
Sabha, it becomes law even if rejected by A. dual judiciary
the Vidhan Parishad B. dual citizenship prevalent here
166. Which one of the following types of C. share of power between the Centre and the
emergency can be declared by the President? States
A. Emergency due to threat of war and D. rigid Constitution
external aggresion 173. Residuary Subjects are those subjects which
B. Emergency due to break-down of constitu- are:
tional machinery in a State A. contained in the State list
C. Financial emergency on account of threat B. contained in the Union list
to the financial credit of India C. contained in the Concurrent list
D. all the three emergencies D. not covered by any of the three lists
167. The chairman of which of the following 174. Which of the following writs can be issued,
parliamentary committees is invariably from by the Supreme Court, to enforce Fundamental
the members of ruling party? Rights?
A. Committee on public undertakings A. Writ of Habeas Corpus
B. Public accounts committee B. Writ of Mandamus
C. Estimates committee C. Writ of Quo Warranto
D. Committee on delegated legislation D. All of these
 110

175. When the offices of both the President and 181. Name the instrument with the help of which
the Vice-President of India are vacant, who a sailor in a submarine can see the objects on
will discharge their functions? the surface of the sea.
A. Prime Minister A. Telescope B. Periscope
B. Home Minister C. Gycroscope D. Stereoscope
C. Chief Justice of India 182. ‘HEMOPHILLIA’ is the disease of ............
D. The Speaker A. liver B. blood
176. The Supreme Court tenders advice to the C. brain D. bones
President of India on a matter of law or fact: 183. Vitamin A is abundantly found in ............
A. on its own A. Brinjal B. Tomato
B. only when such advice is sought C. Carrot D. Cabbage
C. only if the matter relates to some basic issue 184. ............ is not soluble in water.
D. only if the issue poses a threat to the unity A. Vitamin A B. Vitamin B
and integrity of the country C. Vitamin C D. None of these
177. Six months shall not intervene between two 185. The blood vessels with the smallest diameter
sessions of the Indian Parliament because : are called ............
A. it is the customary practice A. capillaries B. arterioles
B. it is the British convention followed in C. venules D. lymphatics
India 186. Out of the following ............ has the greatest
C. it is an obligation under the Constitution elasticity.
of India A. steel B. rubber
D. None of the above C. aluminium D. annealed copper
178. The States of the Indian Union can be 187. Cooking gas is a mixture of which of the
recognised or their boundaries altered by: following two gases?
A. the Union Parliament by a simple majority A. Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen
in the ordinary process of legislation B. Butane and Propane
B. two-thirds majority of both the Houses of C. Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide
Parliament D. Methane and Ethylene
C. two-thirds majority of both the Houses of 188. The substance most commonly used as a food
Parliament and the consent of the legisla- preservative is:
tures of concerned States A. sodium carbonate B. tartaric acid
D. an executive order of the Union C. acetic acid D. benzoic acid
government with the consent of the
189. Normally, the substances that fight against
concerned State governments diseases in human systems are known as:
179. The Basic Feature theory of the Constitution A. dioxyribonucleic acids
of India was propounded by the Supreme Court B. carbohydrates
in the case of : C. enzymes
A. Minerva Mills Vs. Union of India D. antibodies
B. Golaknath Vs. State of Punjab 190. The SI unit of temperature is ............
C. Maneka Gandhi Vs. Union of India A. Kelvin B. Celsius
D. Keshavananda Vs. State of Kerala C. Fahrenheit D. None of the above
180. Which one of the following writs is issued by 191. One of the common fungal diseases of man
a court in case of illegal detention of a person? is :
A. Habeas corpus B. Mandamus A. plague B. ringworm
C. Certiorari D. Quo-warranto C. cholera D. typhoid
 111

192. A clear sky is blue because: C. Absorption of other colours by water

A. red light is scattered more than blue molecules
B. ultraviolet light has been absorbed D. None of the above
C. blue light is scattered more than red 202. The image formed on the retina of the eye is:
D. blue light has been absorbed A. upright and real
193. Jenner introduced the method of making B. larger than the object
people immune to : C. small and inverted
A. small pox B. rabies D. enlarged and real
C. cholera D. polio 203. Unit of loudness of sound is:
194. The largest cell in the human body is : A. bel B. decibel
A. Nerve cell B. Live cell C. phon D. none of these
C. Muscle cell D. Kidney cell 204. Oil rises up the wick in a lamp :
195. What is the device that steps up or steps down A. because oil is volatile
the voltage? B. due to the capillary action phenomenon
A. Dynamo B. Conductor C. due to the surface tension phenomenon
C. Inductor D. Transformer D. because oil is very light
196. The protein deficiency disease is known as : 205. The ‘stones’ formed in human kidney consist
A. Kwashiorker B. Cirrhosis mostly of :
C. Eczema D. Clycoses A. calcium oxalate
B. sodium acetate
197. Iron deficiency causes : C. magnesium sulphate
A. rickets B. anaemia D. calcium
C. cirrhosis D. goitre
206. We hear the sound later, while the light is
198. Blood group of an individual is controlled seen earlier:
by : A. because light’s speed is more than that of
A. Haemoglobin B. Shape of RBC sound
C. Shape of WBC D. Genes B. because lights travel in a straight direction
199. In a normal man the amount of blood pumped while sound in a zigzag direction
out by the heart per minute is about : C. because sound’s frequency is lower than
A. 1 litre B. 3 litres light
C. 4 litres D. 5 litres D. All of the above
200. Red/green colour blindness in man is known 207. Which part of an eye is transplanted?
as : A. Cornea
A. Protanopia B. Retina
B. Deutetanopia C. Iris
C. Both A and B above D. Sciera
D. Marfan’s syndrome 208. The Universal donor group of blood is:
201. The blue colour of the water in the sea is due A. O B. A
to : C. B D. AB
A. Reflection of the blue light by the 209. The green colour of the leaf is due to :
impurities in sea water A. Presence of Chloroplast
B. Reflection of the blue sky by sea water B. Presence of Chromium
and scattering of blue light by water C. Presence of Nicoplast
molecules D. Presence of excess of oxygen
 112

210. Voice of a child is more shrill than that of an 219. The deficiency of which one of the following
elderly person because: vitamins leads to bleeding of gums and
A. the pitch of the child’s voice is higher loosening of teeth?
than that of the person A. Vitamin D B. Vitamin C
B. the pitch is lower C. Vitamin B D. Vitamin A
C. the child is more energetic
220. How much blood does a normal person have
D. None of the above
in his body?
211. Camel uses its hump for : A. 8 litres B. 4 to 5 litres
A. storing water C. 10 litres D. 2 litres
B. storing fat
221. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct
C. for balancing the body
answer using the codes given below the Lists :
D. temperature regulation
List-I List-II
212. A man standing in a free falling lift releases (a) Visakhadatta 1. Mrichhakatika
a ball from his hand. The ball would be : (b) Shudraka 2. Ritusamhara
A. moving down (c) Kalidasa 3. Kamasutra
B. moving up (d) Vatsyayana 4. Devichandraguptam
C. stationary Codes :
D. moving up and down (a) (b) (c) (d)
213. To change the quality of sound produced by A. 1 4 2 3
an instrument we need to vary the: B. 4 1 3 2
A. pitch C. 1 4 3 2
B. loudness D. 4 1 2 3
C. amplitude 222. In which one of the following langauges is
D. number of overtonnes the Dalit writing more conspicuous?
214. The disease caused by Asbestos is: A. Punjabi B. Assamese
A. Emphysema B. Paralysis C. Marathi D. Odiya
C. Diarrhoea D. Dysentery 223. The first writer to use Urdu as the medium of
215. Sweetness of a sound depends upon its poetic expression was:
A. wavelength A. Amir Khusrau
B. frequency B. Mirza Ghalib
C. amplitude C. Bahadur Shah Zafar
D. periodicity and regularity D. Faiz
216. Bats can fly in the dark because : 224. The religious text of the Zoroastrians is named
A. they have a better vision in the dark as:
B. the pupils of their eyes are very big A. Torah B. The Analects
C. they are guided by ultrasonic waves C. Tripatika D. Zend Avesta
produced by them 225. Name the music duo which composed music
D. any bird can do so for Raj Kapoor’s film ‘Bobby’?
217. Blood is formed in the human adult by the : A. Laxmikant Pyarelal B. Shankar Jaikishen
A. heart B. spleen C. Kalyanji Anandji D. Nadeem Shravan
C. kidney D. bone marrow 226. Raja Harishchandra, an early Indian film, was
218. Pencil ‘lead’ is made up of: produced by :
A. graphite B. charcoal A. D.G. Phalke B. Ashok Kumar
C. lead oxide D. lampblack C. Ardeshir Irani D. None of the above
 113 (137) G.K.—15

227. All films are certificed by ........ before they are 236. The character played by Jim Carrey in the
publicly exhibited. movie Man on Moon is based on:
A. Films Division A. Andy Kaufman B. Edwin Aldrin
B. National Film Development Corporation C. John Glenn D. Neil Armstrong
(NFDC)
237. A popular Hindi film-based on the famous
C. Directorate of Advertising and Visual
Sanskrit play Mrichhakatika, was titled:
Publicity (DAVP)
A. Meghadoot B. Amrapali
D. Central Board of Film Certificate (CBFC)
C. Utsav D. Shakuntala
228. Who among the following was the director of
238. Who composed the song ‘Zara Yad Karo
the film ‘Taal’?
Kurbani’?
A. Gulzar B. Shekhar Kapoor
A. Javed Akhtar
C. Satish Shah D. Subhash Ghai
B. Pradeep
229. Who amongst the following actresses C. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
has played the leading role in the film D. Raghupati Sahay ‘Firaq’
Elizabeth?
A. Gwyneth Paltrow B. Cate Blanchett 239. Who was the producer of the serial
C. Simi Garewal D. Kim Basinger ‘Mahabharat’?
A. Shyam Benegal B. B.R. Chopra
230. The film ‘Train to Pakistan’ is based on the C. Ramanand Sagar D. Mani Ratnam
novel of the same name, written by:
A. Bhishma Sahani 240. Which of the following is a folk dance of
B. Khushwant Singh Rajasthan?
C. Amrita Pritam A. Garba B. Dandya
D. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas C. Jhumar D. Kathak

231. Which of the following is a folk dance form 241. ‘The Colonel’ is the nickname of which Indian
of Jharkhand? Test Cricketer?
A. Pali B. Jhumar A. Colonel C.K. Naidu
C. Nati D. Chhau B. Rahul Dravid
C. Mohinder Amarnath
232. The first feature film (talkie) to be produced D. Dilip Vengsarkar
in India was:
A. Hatimtai B. Alam Ara 242. The term ‘Grandmaster’ is used in which of
C. Pundalik D. Raja Harishchandra these games?
A. Judo B. Chess
233. Who directed the film “Bombay”? C. Bridge D. Karate
A. Shyam Benegal B. Meera Nair
C. Shekhar Kapoor D. Mani Ratnam 243. The term “Derby” is related with which of the
following?
234. Late Iftekhar Ahmad was famous in which of A. Polo B. Swimming
the following fields? C. Racing D. Horse Racing
A. Acting B. Singing
C. Music D. Literature 244. With which game is Geet Sethi associated?
A. Basketball B. Chess
235. Who among the following is the director of C. Snooker D. Tennis
the film ‘Kaho Na Pyar Hai’?
A. Subhash Ghai 245. Beighton Cup is related with which of the
B. Shekhar Kapoor following?
C. Ramesh Sippy A. Hockey B. Polo
D. Rakesh Roshan C. Cricket D. Soccer
 114 (137) G.K.—15-II

246. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct B. Bhagyashree Sathe Thipsay
answer using the codes given below the Lists : C. Vishwanathan Anand
List-I List-II D. D.V. Prasad
(a) Basketball 1. Lob 252. The XXI Commonwealth Games were held in
(b) Bridge 2. Revoke 2018 in :
(c) Golf 3. Pivot A. Kuala Lumpur B. Bangkok
(d) Tennis 4. Bunker C. Victoria D. Queensland
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d) 253. The term ‘Tee’ is associated with which of the
A. 2 3 1 4 following sports?
B. 2 3 4 1 A. Golf B. Table Tennis
C. Polo D. Judo
C. 3 2 1 4
D. 3 2 4 1 254. The famous woman Tennis player who was
stabbed during a match, is
247. The head office of the International Cricket
A. Steffi Graf B. Monica Seles
Council (ICC) is situated in :
C. Mary Pierce D. Martina Navratilova
A. Zimbabwe B. Australia
C. South Africa D. UAE 255. The term ‘Baseline’ is related to which of the
following?
248. Match the following : A. Golf B. Hockey
List-I List-II C. Badminton D. Polo
(a) Deodhar Trophy 1. Volleyball
(b) Durand Cup 2. Football 256. In which Indian State did the game of Polo
(c) Davis Cup 3. Cricket originate?
4. Tennis A. Manipur B. Rajasthan
C. Gujarat D. West Bengal
Codes:
(a) (b) (c) 257. Which player holds the record for scoring
A. 3 2 4 maximum number of goals in World Cup
B. 3 1 4 Soccer?
C. 2 3 1 A. Pele B. Diego Maradona
D. 1 2 4 C. Gerd Muller D. Lothar Mathaus
249. Which of the following is called ‘Grand Slam’? 258. Rafael Nadal is the well-known player
A. Winning the highest number of medals in associated with:
the Olympic games A. Hockey B. Cricket
B. Winning the men’s singles title in C. Tennis D. Chess
Wimbledon Championship 259. Gagan Narang is the well-known player
C. Winning the Wimbledon Singles title associated with :
successively for two years A. Shooting B. Golf
D. Winning all the four championships C. Table Tennis D. Chess
Australian, French, Wimblendon and US 260. Eden Garden, a famous Cricket stadium, is
250. With which game is the term ‘butterfly stroke’ located in :
associated? A. Kanpur B. Kolkata
A. Swimming B. Cricket C. Jamshedpur D. Pune
C. Gliding D. Skiing 261. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Trophy is associated
251. Who is the first Indian to win the ‘International with :
Grand Master’ title in Chess? A. Golf B. Hockey
A. Anupama Abhayankar C. Soccer D. Tennis
 115

262. Jaspal Rana is a distinguished athlete in which 273. Which cricketer is nicknamed as the pied piper
of the following games? of Punjab?
A. Swimming B. Weightlifting A. Yuvraj Singh
C. Shooting D. Archery B. Harbhajan Singh
263. Cricket was an Olympic event at which of the C. Mohinder Amarnath
following Olympics? D. Navjot Singh Sidhu
A. London, 1908 B. Amsterdam, 1928 274. ‘Merdeka Cup’ is associated with ...........
C. Paris, 1900 D. Melbourne, 1956 A. Golf B. Football
264. WISPA competitions are associated with : C. Squash D. Hockey
A. Squash B. Yatching 275. The first time athletes marched into the
C. Boxing D. Billiards stadium behind their nation’s flag in
265. Ryder Cup is the famous trophy of : Olympics:
A. Golf B. Chess A. at St. Louis 1904 B. at London 1908
C. Boxing D. Polo C. at Antwerp 1920 D. at Paris 1924
266. Davis Cup is associated with the sport of : 276. The “Dronacharya Award” is associated with:
A. Cricket B. Football A. Eminent Surgeons B. Famous Sports Person
C. Tennis D. Hockey C. Sport Coaches D. Expert Engineers
267. 'Volley', 'Chop' and 'Drive Spine' are the term 277. Which cricketer is nicknamed as ‘Jumbo’?
associated with : A. Venkatesh Prasad B. Anil Kumble
A. Lawn Tennis B. Badminton C. Glenn McGrath D. Shane Warne
C. Table Tennis D. Golf 278. The first time the Olympic Games were
268. Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium is located at : organised by a private company at:
A. Hyderabad A. Montreal, 1976 B. Los Angeles, 1984
B. Chennai C. Atlanta, 1996 D. Rome, 1960
C. Ahmedabad
279. In which Asian Games Cricket was played
D. Varanasi
first?
269. The first winner of “Rajiv Khel Ratna Award” A. Guangzhou, 2010 B. Doha, 2006
was : C. Busan, 2002 D. Seoul, 1986
A. Geet Sethi
B. Sachin Tendulkar 280. The term 'Penalty cick' is used in :
C. Viswanathan Anand A. Hockey B. Football
D. Karnam Malleswari C. Baseball D. Golf

270. The winner of 2019 Cricket World Cup is: 281. Which of the following countries is not a
A. England B. Sri Lanka member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
C. Bangladesh D. Australiya (NATO)?
A. Norway B. United Germany
271. The first team event introduced in 1900 at C. Portugal D. Australia
Paris Olympics was :
A. Hockey B. Football 282. Khmer Rouge is a dictatorial party of :
C. Cricket D. Baseball A. Cambodia B. Indonesia
C. Malaysia D. Thailand
272. Which of the following international tennis
tournaments is held on grass court? 283. Which country is not a member of SAARC?
A. US Open B. French Open A. Russia B. Bangladesh
C. Wimbledon D. Australian Open C. Nepal D. Pakistan
 116

284. The headquarters of WTO is located at : 292. Where is the headquarters of INTERPOL
A. Geneva B. Paris located?
C. The Hague D. Washington A. Berlin B. California
285. The main function of the World Trade C. Lyons D. Montreal
Organisation (WTO) is: 293. Parliament of which of the following countries
A. enforcing of Uruguay Round Agreements is known as Great People’s Khural?
B. facilitating multi-lateral trade relations of A. Malaysia B. Mongolia
member countries and reviewing trade C. Thailand D. Indonesia
policies
C. administering trade dispute settlement 294. Numbers of major organs of United Nations
procedures are:
D. None of the above A. 3 B. 4
C. 5 D. 6
286. The Secretary-General of the UNO is appointed
by the: 295. When is the UN Day celebrated?
A. General Assembly A. October 24 B. January 24
B. Security Council C. June 24 D. September 24
C. Trusteeship Council 296. Which one of the following organ of United
D. World Bank Nations is known as the 'Policeman of the
287. The United Nations officially came into World'?
existence in 1945 on : A. Security Council
A. November 24 B. October 14 B. International Court of Justice
C. October 24 D. November 14 C. The Secretariat
288. Which one of the following is true of the D. General Assembly
International Court of Justice? 297. The members of the NAFTA include:
A. The Judges of the Court are appointed A. USA, Canada and Mexico
according to the discretion of the Secretary B. USA, Canada, Mexico and UK
General C. USA, UK, Russia and Mexico
B. No two Judges may belong to the same D. USA, Canada and Brazil
country
C. The Court consists of 20 Judges 298. The sits of International Court of Justice is
D. The statute of the International Court of located at :
Justice is not an integral part of the UN A. Vienna B. Paris
Charter C. Hague D. New York
289. Which of the following was not among the 299. Which of the following is known as the
six founding countries of the European Constitution of the UN?
Community? A. UN Charter
A. Belgium B. France B. UN Assembly
C. Germany D. UK C. UN Security Council
290. The smallest country in South America is: D. UN Secretariat
A. Ecuador B. Guyana 300. The Headquarters of the Amnesty
C. Surinam D. Uruguay International is located at :
291. In which year “Human Rights Resolution” A. New York
was adopted by the U.N.? B. London
A. 1945 B. 1946 C. Geneva
C. 1947 D. 1948 D. Addis-Ababa
 117

301. Who is the author of the book ‘PRISON 311. “Alice in Wonderland” is written by :
DIARY’? A. Lewis Carrol B. Chester Bowles
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak C. Charles Dickens D. Jonathan Swift
B. Rajendra Prasad
312. “Mrichchhakatikam” is written by :
C. Jai Prakash Narayan
A. Vishakhadatta B. Vatsyayana
D. Jawahar Lal Nehru
C. Sudraka D. Bana Bhatt
302. Who is the author of ‘Satanic Verses’?
A. Lewis Carrol B. Salman Rushdie 313. “My Experiments with Truth” is written by :
C. Parry Mason D. Mulk Raj Anand A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. M.K. Gandhi
303. Who wrote ‘Gitanjali’? C. Abul Kalam Azad
A. Kalidas D. Rajendra Prasad
B. Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’
C. Rabindra Nath Tagore 314. Who wrote the book “India Wins Freedom”?
D. Jawahar Lal Nehru A. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
B. Mahatma Gandhi
304. Who, among the following, scholars C. Sir Mohammad Iqbal
flourishing during the Gupta Age, was the D. Abdul Gaffar Khan
author of Dasakumara-Charita?
A. Asanga B. Dignaga 315. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct
C. Dandina D. Bhattin answer using the codes given below the Lists :
List-I List-II
305. The author of Gitagovinda was:
(a) Emma 1. Graham Greene
A. Halayudha B. Jayadeva
(b) Mother India 2. E.M. Forster
C. Kalhana D. Jona-raja
(c) Human Factor 3. Jane Austen
306. “Ingenious Pain” is a book/novel written by: (d) Passage to India 4. Katherine Mayo
A. Andrew Miller B. Santa Monica Codes :
C. Ben Johnson D. Bill Gates (a) (b) (c) (d)
307. Who amongst the following is the author of A. 2 1 4 3
the famous book “An Equal Music”? B. 3 4 1 2
A. Salman Rushdie B. Shasthivrata C. 3 1 2 4
C. Vikram Seth D. Kamla Markandeya D. 4 2 1 3
308. The famous Moorti Devi Award is given for 316. ‘Poverty and Un British Rule in India’ is
excellence in which of the following fields? written by:
A. Medicine A. R.C. Dutt B. J.L. Nehru
B. Science & Technology C. D.B. Naoroji D. S.N. Sen
C. Social Service
317. Name the author of the book A Passage to
D. Literature
England.
309. Who has written “Devdas”? A. E.M. Forster
A. Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay B. Nirad C. Choudhuri
B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay C. Vikram Seth
C. Rabindranath Tagore D. Eric Segal
D. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
318. The author of the book ‘The Struggle in My
310. “Ain-i-Akbari” is written by: Life’ is:
A. Todar Mal B. Abul Fazal A. Mandela B. J.L. Nehru
C. Sheikh Saadi D. Mirza Ghalib C. Tilak D. Gokhale
 118

319. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award is given 328. Which one of the following authors put forth
by which of the following organisations? the theory of the Drain of India’s resources to
A. Council for Scientific and Industrial England?
Research A. Raja Rammohan Roy
B. Indian Council for Agricultural Research B. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
C. Indian National Science Academy C. G.G. Agarkar
D. Indian Space Research Organisation D. Dadabhai Naoroji
320. Which of the following books is not written 329. The “Last Supper” is a famous renaissance
by Salman Rushdie? painting. It was a masterpiece of :
A. The Satanic Verses A. Michael Angelo B. Leonardo da Vinci
B. Shame C. Titian D. Raphael
C. Naked Face 330. Dhyanchand is associated with which sports?
D. Midnight’s Children A. Badminton B. Hockey
321. The different schools of modern socialism C. Tennis D. Football
derive their strength primarily from the 331. ‘Man is born free, yet every where he is in
writings of ...........? chains’. This was said by:
A. Joseph Stalin B. Leo Tolstoy A. Voltaire B. John Stuart Mill
C. Mao Tse-tung D. Karl Marx C. Rousseau D. Karl Marx
322. Baba Amte is famous as a ........... 332. Who among the following was a prominent
A. Painter B. Singer social reformer?
C. Politician D. Social Worker A. Baba Gurmukh Singh
323. Central Government says that .............. was B. Raja Mahendra Pratap
received well by citizens as ‘imandari ka C. Bipin Chandra Pal
utsav’. D. Jotiba Govind Phule
A. Demonetization 333. Whose real name was Gadadhar Chhattopa-
B. Goods and Services Tax dhyaya?
C. E-NAM A. Swami Vivekanand
D. All of the above B. Ram Krishna Paramhansa
324. Mr. Yehudi Menuhin, was a famous: C. Dayanand Saraswai
A. Sitarist B. Cartoonist D. Raja Ram Mohan Rai
C. Journalist D. Violinist 334. Who was known as “Man of Destiny”?
325. Sundarlal Bahuguna, a famous environ- A. Napoleon B. Nehru
mentalist, was associated with : C. Hitler D. Mussolini
A. Chipko Movement 335. Who discovered that mosquito served as a
B. Narmada Bachao Andolan carrier of malaria?
C. Satyagraha Movement A. Jonas Salk B. Ronald Ross
D. Anti-corruption Movement C. Louis Pasteur D. Robert Koch
326. Mother Teressa’s native place was : 336. Who was the first woman Governor of an
A. Albania B. France Indian State?
C. Greece D. Italy A. Sushila Nayar B. Sucheta Kripalani
327. The live polio vaccine which can be taken by C. Sarojini Naidu D. Sulochana Modi
mouth was developed by : 337. Who among the following founded the
A. Albert Sabin B. Edward Jenner Bhartiya Jana Sangh?
C. Jonas Salk D. Selman Waksman A. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
 119

B. Veer Savarkar 339. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is an exponent of:

C. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia A. Flute B. Sitar
D. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee C. Sarod D. Tabla
338. Who among the following President of India 340. Who is the first non-Indian to receive the
held his office for two successive terms? Bharat Ratna?
A. V.V. Giri A. Martin Luther King
B. Dr. Rajendra Prasad B. Zubin Mehta
C. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan C. Mother Teressa
D. None of these D. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

ANSWERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B C D C B C A C C D
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
C A C A A D A B A D
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
A C B C D C B D D B
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
C D C C B C D B C C
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
A A A B C D C B B D
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
A C A B B A B C A C
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
C C B B C C D D D B
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
B C C C A A A B B A
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
A B D B C C D C B D
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
A B A A A B B A A C
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
C B A D D D A C D C
111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
B B B A D C C D B D
121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
C A A B A D C D B D
131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
B B D A B D B D D C
141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
D C D D D B A D C C
 120

151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
A B A A A D C B D A
161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170
B B C B D D C B B B
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
D C D D C B C A D A
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190
B B C A A A B D D A
191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
B C A A D A B D D A
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
B B B B A A A A A A
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220
B A A A D C D A B B
221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230
D C A D A A D D B B
231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
D B D A D D C B B C
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250
D B D C A D D A D A
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260
C D A B C A C C A B
261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
B C C A A C C A C A
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280
B C A B A C B B A B
281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290
D A A A B A C B D C
291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
D C B D A A A C A B
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
C B C C B A C D D B
311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320
A C B A B C B A A C
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
D D A D A A C D B B
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
C D B A B C D B C D

p p p 2107