General Awareness — History & Geography

1. Who wrote the national anthem of India 'Jana Gana Mana'?

• A. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
• B. Rabindranath Tagore (Correct)
• C. Subramania Bharati
• D. Sarojini Naidu

Explanation: Jana Gana Mana was composed by Rabindranath Tagore. It was officially adopted as India's national anthem on 24 January 1950.

2. Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'?

• A. Ganga
• B. Kosi (Correct)
• C. Gandak
• D. Son

Explanation: The Kosi River is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar' due to the devastating floods it causes annually, displacing millions.

3. The Mughal Emperor who abolished the Jizya tax was:

• A. Babur
• B. Humayun
• C. Akbar (Correct)
• D. Aurangzeb

Explanation: Akbar abolished the Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1564 as part of his policy of religious tolerance.

4. The capital of Rajasthan is:

• A. Jaipur (Correct)
• B. Jodhpur
• C. Udaipur
• D. Bikaner

Explanation: Jaipur, also called the 'Pink City', is the capital of Rajasthan.

5. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in:

• A. 1910
• B. 1913
• C. 1915 (Correct)
• D. 1919

Explanation: Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915, after 21 years, at Gopal Krishna Gokhale's request.

6. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?

• A. Maharashtra
• B. Andhra Pradesh
• C. Tamil Nadu
• D. Gujarat (Correct)

Explanation: Gujarat has the longest coastline of any Indian state, stretching approximately 1,600 km.

7. The Berlin Wall fell in:

• A. 1985
• B. 1987
• C. 1989 (Correct)
• D. 1991

Explanation: The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989, symbolising the end of the Cold War and leading to German reunification in 1990.

8. The Strait of Malacca connects which two bodies of water?

• A. Pacific and Atlantic
• B. Indian Ocean and South China Sea (Correct)
• C. Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
• D. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea

Explanation: The Strait of Malacca connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) to the South China Sea, making it one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

9. The Simon Commission (1927) was boycotted because:

• A. It increased taxes
• B. No Indian was included in it (Correct)
• C. It proposed partition
• D. It was formed by Indians

Explanation: The All-British Simon Commission had no Indian members, triggering widespread protests with the slogan 'Simon, Go Back'.

10. Which is the highest peak in the world?

• A. K2
• B. Kangchenjunga
• C. Mount Everest (Correct)
• D. Lhotse

Explanation: Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) in the Himalayas on the Nepal-China border is the world's highest peak.

11. Who led the 'Home Rule League' in 1916?

• A. Gandhi and Tilak
• B. Tilak and Annie Besant (separately) (Correct)
• C. Gokhale and Nehru
• D. Jinnah and Tilak

Explanation: Two Home Rule Leagues were established in 1916: one by Bal Gangadhar Tilak (April) in Pune, and another by Annie Besant (September) in Madras — both working separately for self-governance.

12. The Tropic of Capricorn passes through which continent?

• A. Asia
• B. Europe
• C. South America (Correct)
• D. North America

Explanation: The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) passes through South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile), Africa, and Australia — not Europe or North America.

13. The Cripps Mission (1942) failed because:

• A. Britain refused to negotiate
• B. Congress wanted immediate independence (Correct)
• C. Japan invaded India
• D. Jinnah accepted the plan

Explanation: The Cripps Mission failed primarily because Congress (and Gandhi) demanded immediate self-governance, while the plan offered dominion status only after the war.

14. River Brahmaputra originates from:

• A. Gangotri glacier
• B. Siachen glacier
• C. Chemayungdung glacier in Tibet (Correct)
• D. Rohtang Pass

Explanation: The Brahmaputra originates from the Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, entering India through Arunachal Pradesh.

15. The 'Golden Temple' in Amritsar was built by which Sikh Guru?

• A. Guru Nanak Dev
• B. Guru Gobind Singh
• C. Guru Ram Das
• D. Guru Arjan Dev (Correct)

Explanation: The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) was constructed by Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Sikh Guru, who also compiled the Adi Granth.

16. The deepest ocean trench in the world is:

• A. Java Trench
• B. Puerto Rico Trench
• C. Mariana Trench (Correct)
• D. Tonga Trench

Explanation: The Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean reaches a depth of ~11,034 m at Challenger Deep — the deepest point on Earth.

17. The United Nations was founded in:

• A. 1942
• B. 1944
• C. 1945 (Correct)
• D. 1947

Explanation: The United Nations was founded on 24 October 1945, after World War II, with 51 member states. Its headquarters is in New York City.

18. Which of the following is a landlocked country?

• A. Sri Lanka
• B. Nepal (Correct)
• C. Indonesia
• D. Malaysia

Explanation: Nepal is landlocked, completely surrounded by India (south/east/west) and China/Tibet (north).

19. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which Governor-General?

• A. Lord Dalhousie (Correct)
• B. Lord Cornwallis
• C. Lord Wellesley
• D. Lord Hastings

Explanation: Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856) introduced the Doctrine of Lapse, under which any princely state would be annexed if the ruler died without a natural heir.

20. The river Nile flows into:

• A. Atlantic Ocean
• B. Red Sea
• C. Mediterranean Sea (Correct)
• D. Indian Ocean

Explanation: The Nile River flows northward through Egypt and empties into the Mediterranean Sea near Alexandria.

21. Ashoka's Dhamma was essentially:

• A. Buddhist philosophy
• B. A set of moral/ethical principles for governance (Correct)
• C. A military code
• D. A taxation system

Explanation: Ashoka's Dhamma was not identical to Buddhism — it was a practical, syncretic moral code emphasizing tolerance, non-violence, respect for all, and social responsibility.

22. The western Ghats is a continuous range that runs from:

• A. Gujarat to Kerala
• B. Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu
• C. Gujarat to Tamil Nadu (Correct)
• D. Maharashtra to Odisha

Explanation: The Western Ghats run approximately 1,600 km along the western coast from the Tapti River in Gujarat/Maharashtra down to the southern tip of Tamil Nadu/Kerala.

23. The 'Bolshevik Revolution' (1917) occurred in:

• A. France
• B. Germany
• C. Russia (Correct)
• D. China

Explanation: The October Revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) of 1917 led by Vladimir Lenin overthrew the Provisional Government and established the world's first communist state in Russia.

24. Thar Desert is located primarily in which Indian state?

• A. Gujarat
• B. Rajasthan (Correct)
• C. Punjab
• D. Haryana

Explanation: The Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert) is located primarily in Rajasthan, extending into parts of Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana.

25. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828?

• A. Swami Vivekananda
• B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Correct)
• C. Dayananda Saraswati
• D. Sri Ramakrishna

Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 in Calcutta, advocating monotheism, social reform, and opposing idol worship and sati.