RRB NTPC General Awareness and Current Affairs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Indian city is known as the 'Pink City'?
- Jodhpur
- Jaipur (Correct answer)
- Udaipur
- Bikaner
Correct answer: Jaipur
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is known as the 'Pink City' because Maharaja Ram Singh painted the entire old city pink in 1876 to welcome Prince Albert.
Jaipur is called the 'Pink City' because Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II had the city painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and Queen Victoria. Traditionally, pink is considered the color of hospitality in Rajasthan. The city was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 and is known for its uniform pink-painted buildings. Jaipur is part of India's Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra.
Question 2: The 'Digital India' initiative was launched with which primary objective?
- To promote digital literacy only in rural areas
- To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy (Correct answer)
- To provide free smartphones to citizens
- To build digital infrastructure for urban areas only
Correct answer: To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy
Digital India was launched to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy by providing government services electronically.
Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India launched on July 1, 2015. The initiative has three core components: digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens. Key initiatives under Digital India include BharatNet (broadband to gram panchayats), DigiLocker, e-Sign, e-Hospital, National Scholarship Portal, and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) for rural digital literacy.
Question 3: Who was the first President of India?
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Correct answer)
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
- V.V. Giri
Correct answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving from 1950 to 1962. He was the only president to serve two full terms.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad became India's first President on January 26, 1950, when India became a Republic. He served two consecutive terms from 1950 to 1962, making him the longest-serving President of India. Before becoming President, he was a lawyer, a freedom fighter who participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the President of the Constituent Assembly. He was born in Bihar and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1962. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan succeeded him as the second President.
Question 4: Which is the largest desert in the world?
- Sahara Desert
- Arabian Desert
- Arctic Desert (Correct answer)
- Gobi Desert
Correct answer: Arctic Desert
The Antarctic/Arctic Desert is technically the largest desert. Among hot deserts, the Sahara is the largest. The Arctic Desert covers about 13.9 million sq km.
By technical definition, a desert receives less than 250mm of precipitation annually. The Antarctic Desert (about 14.2 million sq km) is actually the world's largest desert, followed by the Arctic Desert (about 13.9 million sq km). Among hot deserts, the Sahara Desert in Africa (about 9.2 million sq km) is the largest. The Gobi Desert in Asia is the largest cold desert outside polar regions. This question tests understanding that deserts are not always hot, sandy expanses.
Question 5: The Khilafat Movement in India was launched in support of which cause?
- Opposition to the Rowlatt Act
- Restoration of the Ottoman Caliphate (Correct answer)
- Demand for self-rule in India
- Protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Correct answer: Restoration of the Ottoman Caliphate
The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) was launched by Indian Muslims to support the Ottoman Sultan who was the Caliph of Islam after Turkey's defeat in WWI.
The Khilafat Movement was a pan-Islamic political campaign led by Indian Muslims (notably the Ali Brothers — Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali) from 1919 to 1924. After World War I, the victorious Allied powers threatened to dismember the Ottoman Empire and abolish the Caliphate. Indian Muslims, who revered the Ottoman Sultan as the Caliph (religious leader) of Islam, launched a movement to protect the Caliphate. Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement to forge Hindu-Muslim unity during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Question 6: Which satellite navigation system is developed and operated by India?
- GPS
- GLONASS
- NavIC (Correct answer)
- Galileo
Correct answer: NavIC
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), formerly known as IRNSS, is India's regional satellite navigation system developed and operated by ISRO.
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), originally called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system developed by ISRO. It provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India and the region extending up to 1,500 km beyond Indian boundaries. The system consists of 7 satellites in orbit. NavIC was developed after the US denied GPS access to India during the Kargil War (1999). It achieved operational status in 2016 and was renamed NavIC in 2016.
RRB NTPC General Awareness and Current Affairs 2
Which Indian city is known as the 'Pink City'?