1 . Which one of the following statements is incorrect in respect of Simon's decisions making theory?
(a) Deciding is as Important as doing
(b) Decisions are, in the final analysis, composite
(c) Administrative man maximizes
(d) There is always a means-ends relationship
2. Which of the following statements regarding decision-making are attributable to Simon?
1. Divorce of ends from means is false.
2. Means also entail value assumptions.
3. Traditional ends-means approach is not logical.
4. Behavior alternative model is superior.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 4
3 . 'Decision-making necessitates the location and control of strategic factors,' this view is
expressed by:
(a) Fayol (b) Barnard (c) Likert (d) Simon
4 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Though the decision making process is an important variable in the organization situation, it alone is not adequate to explain the totality of the organization picture.
Reason (R): Decision-making is a process involving emotional, expressive, rational and instrumental dimensions. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
5 . The concept of satisfying behavior comes close to the economic concept of :
(a) Maximizing output (b) Optimum output
(c) Best output. (d) Easily achievable output
6 . Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
List I List II
A. Laissez-faire -Leader 1. Deserter
B. Country-Club-Leader 2. Compromise
C. Task Management Leader 3. Missionary
D. Team Management Leader 4. Executive
5. Autocrat
A B C D A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 1 3 5 4
(c) 3 1 5 2 (d) 2 1 4 3
7 . Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
List I List II
A. Trait theory 1. Exchange process between leaders and followers
B. Sociometric theory 2. Personality characteristic of a leader
C. Group theory 3. Environmental factors
D. Contingency theory 4. Goals and structure of an organization
5. Facts and values
A B C D A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 3 4 5 1 (d) 3 2 5 4
8 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Leadership comes from a complex relationship between the leader and the led conflicts that arise between the organization and its environment. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
9 . Which one of the following theories views leadership as a manipulative function?
(a) Human Relations Theory (b) Scientific Management Theory
(c) Classical Theory (d) Decision Making Theory
10 . Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as
Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : The function of communication is not just to get something off the mind of the
transmitter.
Reason (R) : Communication must create the desired impact at the receiving end.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
11 . Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as
Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Classical theorists did not take cognizance of the needs of individuals.
Reason (R) : Need theorists believe that workers are motivated by their own intrinsic needs.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
12 . Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
List I List II
A. ERG theory 1. A.H. Maslow
B. Acquired-Needs 2. Clayton Alderfer
Theory .
C. Hierarchy of Needs 3. David C. McClelland
Theory
D. Equity Theory 4. J. S. Adams
A B C D A B C D
(a) 2 3 1 4 (b) 2 1 3 4
(c) 4 3 1 2 (d) 4 1 3 2
13 . Consider the following statements about Civil Service in a developing society:
1. It should act as an agent of change.
2. It should have concern for social equity.
3. It should have concern for vested interests.
4. It should be politically neutral.
Which of the above are correct ?
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4
14 . Which one of the following shows the correct sequence of the four basic steps in the Position Classification Plan ?
(a) Job analysis, Grouping of Positions, Standardization, Position allocation
(b) Standardization, Job analysis, Grouping of Positions, Position allocation
(c) Grouping of Position, Job analysis, Position allocation, Standardization
(d) Position allocation, Standardization, Job analysis, Grouping of Positions
15 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion {A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Rank classification facilitates literal entry.
Reason (R) : Rank classification facilitates transfers within the service.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
16 . " The most illustrious English jurists have been men who have never opened a law book till after the close of a distinguished academic career…" This statement was made in favor of
(a) a test of scholastic abilities for entry into civil services
(b) training civil servants for functional specialization
(c) a test after training of civil servants
(d) a period of probation for civil servants
17 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Recruitment has been regarded as the most important function of personnel administration.
Reason (R) : All other aspect of personnel administration are dependent upon right recruitment. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
18. Which of the following regarding training in civil service are true?
1. It should be of a continuous nature.
2. It should be for upgrading the skills.
3. It should be for updating the knowledge.
4. It should be delinked from promotion.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4
19 . Which of the following can be used to ensure objectivity in assessing the suitability of candidates for promotion?
1. Prescribing such criteria as qualifications and experience.
2. Laying down qualities to be assessed
3. Requiring reasons to be recorded for denial of promotion.
4. Requiring adverse reports to be given to the employee concerned.
5. Constituting multimember boards for the purpose.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 (d) 2, 3, 4 and 5
20 . According to Lopez, which of the following are the primary purposes of performance evaluation?
1. Information 2. Control 3. Review. 4. Motivation 5. Development
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2,3 and 4
(c) 1, 4 and 5 (d) 3, 4 and 5
21 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Staff councils are the best device to resolve the disputes between the government and public employee.
Reason (R) : Cordial relations between the employer and employees are indispensable for optimum productivity of an organization.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
22 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Public employees, like others, should have the right to demonstrate in order to arouse public conscience about their grievances.
Reason (R) : The government as a model employer is required to provide fair conditions of service.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
23 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : The principle of 'fair comparison' for determination of salaries in the civil service, is NOT acceptable.
Reason (R) : Public Administration has no profit motive.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not tile correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
24 . Which of the following are major considerations in salary structuring for civil service?
1. Ability to pay 2. productivity 3. Adequacy 4. Rationality
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4
25 . Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : Restrictions on political activities of public employees are in their own interests. Reason (R) : Neutrality of civil servants ensures that all of them are treated alike.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Question for Exams
1. Which of the following Rajput dynasties did not surrender to Akbar
(a) Parmar (b) Pratihara (c) Rathor (d) Sisodiya
Ans:B
2. Which amidst the following was not a fort of the Maratha ruler Shivaji?
(a) Sindhudurg (b) Raigad (c) Amber (d) Padmadurg
Ans:C
3. Which Sikh Guru was executed by Aurangzeb?
(a) Guru Arjun Dev (b) Guru Ram Das (c) Guru Teg Bahadur (d) Guru Gobind Singh
Ans:C
4. Which Muslim ruler was keen to have friendly relations with the Rajputs
(a) Akbar (b) Humayun (c) Babar (d) Aurangzeb
Ans:A
5. Which of the following rulers had the title Kaviraja
(a) Kumaragupta (b) Chanragupta (c) Skandagupta (d) Samudragupta
Ans:D
6. Who among the following Indian rulers established embassies in foreign countries on modern lines
(a) Tipu sultan (b) Mir Quasim (c) Haider Ali (d) Shah Alam II
Ans:D
7. ‘Nav Ratnas’ (nine gems) were the famous personalities associated with the court of:
(a) Chandra Gupta II (b) Harshavardhana (c) Narasimsha Varman (d) Samudra Gupta
Ans:A
8. Who pursued the policy "Blood and Iron"
(a) Balban (b) Firuz Tughlaq (c) Malik Kafur (d) Alauddin Khilji
Ans:A
9. The main centre or meeting point of Indo-Roman trade in ancient times was
(a) Rome (b) Calicut (c)Alexandria (d) Karaikkal
Ans:B
10. Who built a tomb for Sher Shah at Sasaram
(a) Ibrahim Shah (b) Islam Shah (c) Sher Shah (d) Sikandar Shah
Ans:D
11. The first major inscription in classical Sanskrit is that of
(a) Rudradaman (b) Chandragupta Vikramaditya (c) Kanishka (d) Samudragupta
Ans:A
12. Which ruler went to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism
(a) Ashoka (b) Samudragupta (c) Sanghamitra (d) Chitragupta
Ans:C
13. Temple architecture was most developed under
(a) Rastrakutas (b) Pallavas (c) Pandyas (d) Cheras
Ans:B
14. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period, women & Sudras speak
(a) Prakrit (b) Sauraseni (c) Pali (d) Sanskrit
Ans:A
15. Sir Thomas Rose visited the court of
(a) Akbar (b) Jehangir (c) Shajahan (d) Aurangazeeb
Ans:B
16. The capital of Mysore during Tipu Sultan’s rule was
(a) Bangalore (b) Devagiri (c) Coimbatoor (d) Srirangapattanam
Ans:D
17. Who among the following was a famous astronomer
(a) Bhanabhatta (b) Vishakadatta (c) Nagarjuna (d) Aryabhatta
Ans:D
18. The Hathigumpha inscription (near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa) relates to the king
(a) Susharma (b) Hala (c) Kharavela (d) Pulamayi
Ans:C
19. Which of the following were the first rulers in India to issue coins which can be definitely attributed to the kings
(a) Shakas (b) Kushans (c) Indo-Greeks (d) Parthians
Ans:C
20. Which of the following Shaka king reconstructed the Sudarshana lake
(a) Rudradaman – I (b) Manes (c) Chastana (d) Bhumaka21
Ans:A
21. Which language was used in the literature of sangam period
(a) Kannada (b) Telugu (c) Tamil (d) Sanskrit
Ans:C
22. What was the type of marriage in the Vedic period in which, in place of the dowry, there was a token bride price of a cow and a bull
(a) Asura (b) Arsa (c) Gantharva (d) Rakshsa
Ans:A
23. At the earlier stage backward classes movement means
(a) Santal movement (b) Non-Brahmin movement (c) Harijan movement (d) Antirulers movement
Ans:B
24. The large residential university established in ancient time was at
(a) Cochin (b) Vaishali (c) Nalanda (d) Harappa
Ans:C
25. Which among the following dynasties had the strongest navy
(a) Chalukya (b) Chola (c) Gupta (d) Pallava
Ans:B
26 .Which of the following Mughal emperor’s tomb is outside India
(a) Akbar (b) Shajahan (c) Aurangazeb (d) Jehangir
Ans:D
27 .Which of the following animals was generally not known to the Indus Valley People
(a) Horse (b) Rhinoceros (c) Bull (d) Cow
Ans:A
28. .Alexander the remained in India for ...... months
(a) 24 (b) 32 (c) 19 (d) 28
Ans:C
29 Artists belonged to Gandhara school of art used
(a) Grey sand stones (b) White marbles (c) Red sand stones
Ans:A
30 Who was the first ruler of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal?
(a) Gopala (b) Devapala (c) Vigropala (d) Dharmapala
Ans:A
31 Who introduced first the famous token currency system in India?
(a) Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlak (b) Muhamad-bin-Tughlak (c) Firoz Tughlak
Ans:B
32 The Chalukya King who had the title of Sri Prithvi-Vallabha and Parameswara was
(a) Pulakesin I (b) Maharaja Kirthivarman (c) Pulakesin II (d) Mangalesa
Ans:C
33 The Meenahshi temple at Madurai is the monument of
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas (c) Cholas (d) Cheras
Ans:B
34 Who amidst the following lived the earliest?
(a) Panini (b) Asvaghosha (c) Bhasa (d) Kalidasa
Ans:A
35 Where is the tomb built by Shahjahan situated?
(a) Red Fort (b) Taj Mahal (c) Agra Fort (d) Sikandara
Ans:
36 Which one of the following is not depicted on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka?
(a) Deer (b) Horse (c) Elephant (d) Lion
Ans:
37 In 1717, which Mughal Emperor gave the English East India Company a Firman granting trade privileges in India?
(a) Shah Alam II (b) Bahadur Shah (c) Jahandar Shah (d) Farrukhsiyar
Ans:
38 The Treaty of Bassein was signed with the British by Peshwa
(a) Madhav Rao (b) Balaji Baji Rao (c) Baji Rao I (d) Baji Rao II
Ans:
39 Who among the following gave asylum to Zoroastri who fled by sea and by the coastal route from Persia to Western India in the early 8th century?
(a) Chalukyas (b) Cholas (c) Hoysalas (d) Rashtrakutas
Ans:
40 The Mughal Empire extended up to Tamil territory in the South under the reign of
(a) Akbar (b) Aurangazeb (c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan
Ans:
41 The first dynasty of the Vijayanagar Kingdom was
(a) Hoysala (b) Sangama (c) Saluva (d) Tuluva
Ans:
42 Who among the following was the famous ruler of ancient India, who adopted Jain dharma at the last
(a) Chandragupta (b) Samudragupta (c) Asoka (d) Bindusare
Ans:
43 Which among the following rulers started ‘Ilahi Calendar’ in 1583
(a) Babur (b) Akbar (c) Shahjahan (d) Sher Shah
Ans:
44 Which of the following was not a centre of learning in ancient India
(a) Taxila (b) Koushambi (c) Vikramshila (d) Nalanda
Ans:
45 Who was the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
(a) Firuz Shah Tughluq (b) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah II (c) Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (d) Nasrat Shah
Ans:
46 The founder of the autonomous kingdom of Avadh was
(a) Shuja-ud-Daula (b) Saadat Khan Burhan-ul Mulk (c) Safdarjung (d) Sher Shah
Ans:
47 The destruction of the Mauryan Empire was followed by a series of invasions, and the first invade India were the
(a) Batrian-Greeks (b) Parthi (c) Kushanas (d) Shakas
Ans:
48 Who among the following took the title of 'Vikramaditya'?
(a) Chandragupta I (b) Chandragupta II (c) Samudragupta (d) Skandagupta
Ans:
49 Which dynasty developed Mahabalipuram?
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas (c) Cholas (d) Chalukyas
Ans:
50 Who among the following resisted the British Ambitions, the maximum?
(a) Mughals (b) Marathas (c) Rajputs (d) Sikhs
Ans:
51 Two principal monuments of Ala-ud-din Khiliji's reign—the Jama'at Khana Masjid and Alai Darwaja were constructed at
(a) Hyderabad (b) Mysore (c) Delhi (d) Agra
Ans:C
52 Who among the following Mugal Emperors had the longest reign?
(a) Bahadur Shah (b) Jahandar Shah (c) Farrukhsiyar (d) Muhammad Shah
Ans:D
53 The main cause of the conflict between Nawab Sirajuddaulah and the East India Company was that
(a) the British opposed the succession of Sirajuddaulah
(b) the British misused the trade concessions.
(c) the British attacked the French settlement of Chandranagar in Bengal.
(d) the incident of Black Hole had occurred
Ans:C
54 Which of the following was the physician who adored Kanishka’s court
(a) Vasumita (b) Charaka (c) Parsva (d) Asvaghosha
Ans:B
55 Which of the following king started the ‘Vikram Sanvad’
(a) Kanishka (b) Vikramaditya (c) Rudradaman (d) Kadphises
Ans:B
56 Which of the following is a port town of Indus Valley Civilization
(a) Harappa (b) Ropar (c) Banawali (d) Lothal
Ans:D
57 Chinese pilgrim who visited India during Harsha Vardhana’s period was
(a) Hiuen Tsang (b) Fa-hien (c) I’tsing (d) Nishka
Ans:A
58 Who introduced the famous Persian festival of Nauroz
(a) Alauddin Khilji (b) Iltumish (c) Firoz Tughlaq (d) Balban
Ans:D
59 The Hoysala’s capital was
(a) Warangal (b) Devagiri (c) Dwarasamudra (d) Krishnagiri
Ans:C
60 Which rulers built Ellora temple
(a) Chalukya (b) Rashtrakuta (c) Pallava (d) Sunga
Ans:B
61 The literature of the Sangam age was written mostly in the form of
(a) Prose (b) Poetry (c) Drama (d) All of these
Ans:B
62 Who among the following was a great musician in the court of Akbar
(a) Abdul Fazal (b) Amir Khusro (c) Ramdas (d) Ten
Ans:D
63 Which among the following ports was called Babul Makkha (Gate of Makkah) during the Mughal period
(a) Broach (b) Calcutta (c) Surat (d) Calicut
Ans:C
64 The development of architecture was at its peak during the reign of
(a) Nandas (b) Cholas (c) Guptas
Ans:C
65 Who among the following ruler was a famous musician
(a) Swathi Thirunal (b) Moolam Thirunal (c) Marthanda Varma (d) Sri Chithira Thirunal
Ans:A
66 Who among the following Sult of Delhi had accepted the suzerainty of the Timurid ruler Mirza Shah Rukh?
(a) Firuz Tughlaq (b) Mahmad Tughlaq (c) Khizr Khan Sayyid (d) Sikandar Lodhi
Ans:C
67 Who among the following joined Mir Qasim and Shuja-ud-Daula in declaring war upon the English East India Company and was later defeated by the British at the Battle of Buxar?
(a) Jahandar Shah (b) Farrukhsiyar (c) Muhammad Shah (d) Shah Alam II
Ans:D
68 How did the dynasty of Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar come to an end?
(a) Ahmadnagar was annexed into Mughal empire and Husain Shah was consigned to life imprisonment
(b) Mughal troops destroyed Daulatabad fort and killed Nizam-ul Mulk of Ahmadnagar
(c) Fateh Khan usurped the throne from Nizam-ul Mulk
(d) Malik Ambar was defeated in a battle with Mughals in 1631 and the entire royal family was killed by the Mughal troops
Ans:A
69 Which of the following materials was mainly used in the manufacture of Harappan seals?
(a) Terra cotta (b) Bronze (c) Copper (d) Iron
Ans:A
70 Which type of ancient script did the Harapp use?
(a) Pictographic (b) Linear (c) Hieroglyphic (d) Symbolic
Ans:A
71 The relics of Indus Valley Civilisation indicate that the main occupation of the people was:
(a) Agriculture (b) Cattle rearing (c) Commerce (d) Hunting
Ans:A
72 The ancient name of Bengal was
(a) Kamrupa (b) Vasta (c) Gauda (d) Vallabhi
Ans:C
73 'Charak' was the famous court physician of
(a) Harsha (b) Chandragupta Maurya (c) Ashoka (d) Kanishka
Ans:D
74 The ancient name of North Bihar was
(a) Vriji (b) Vasta (c) Surasena (d) Avanti
Ans:A
75 Where did the traveler Ibn Batuta come from?
(a) Persia (b) Morocco (c) Turkey (d) Central Asia
Ans:B
76 Which among the following is the oldest dynasty?
(a) Maurya (b) Gupta (c) Kushan (d) Kanva
Ans:A
77 Where was Akbar born?
(a) Delhi (b) Agra (c) Amarkal (d) Kannauj
Ans:C
78 Among the following, one was NOT an ancient Indian mathematician
(a) Chandra Gupta Maurya (b) Boudhayana (c) Bhaskaran II (d) Sankaravarman
Ans:A
79 Taj Mahal was built by
(a) Akbar the Great (b) Jahangir (c) Shah Jahan (d) Babur
Ans:C
80 Kautilya, the author of Arthasathra was a contempoary of
(a) Asoka (b) Samura Gupta (c) Harshavardhana (d) Chandra Gupta Maurya
Ans:D
81 The Golden Temple at Amritsar was built by
(a) Guru Nanak (b) Guru Arjan Dev (c) Guru Tej Bahadur (d) Gobind Sing
Ans:B
82 What is history?
(a) Story of the past events (b) Story of present events (c) Story of future events (d) All of them
Ans:A
83 What should a genuine history deal with?
(a) Lives of kings (b) Lives of masses of people (c) Lives of feudal lords (d) All of them
Ans:B
84 What is history made of?
(a) Lives of kings (b) Battles (c) Law and order (d) All of the above
Ans:D
85 What is most important part of history?
(a) Monarchs (b) Generals who win wars (c) Common people (d) Saints and sages
Ans:C
86 Where do we find the remains of Buddhist religion?
(a) Thailand (b) Sri Lanka (c) Afghanistan (d) All of the above
Ans:D
87 What was Burma before its independence?
(a) A part of India (b) A part of China (c) A part of Thailand (d) A part of Malaysia
Ans:A
88 When was the World War fought?
(a) 1915 (b) 1942 (c) Both (d) Neither
Ans:C
89 Who helped America the most in getting freedom from the British?
(a) Italy (b) Canada (c) France (d) India
Ans:C
90 Who were pilgrim Fathers?
(a) Jew pilgrims to Jerusalem (b) Hindu pilgrims to Hardwar (c) First British people going to USA (d) Indian Buddhists in China
Ans:C
91 Why did Ary come to India?
(a) To find grass for their cattle (b) To hunt tigers (c) To drive out Tamils (d) To conquer land
Ans:A
92 Which Revolution fathered Russian Revolution?
(a) French revolution (b) American Revolution (c) Industrial Revolution (d) All of them
Ans:D
93 Who first built the Grand Trunk Road?
(a) Humayun (b) Sher Shah Suri (c) Shahjahan (d) Jahangir
Ans:B
94 Who is USA's Father of the Nation?
(a) Abraham Lincoln (b) Washington (c) Jefferson (d) Roosevelt
Ans:B
95 Who fought the First World War?
(a) Germany (b) British (c) France (d) All of them
Ans:D
96 Who fought the Second World War?
(a) Hitler (b) Churchill (c) Stalin (d) All of the
Ans:D
97 Which period came first?
(a) British period (b) Muslim period (c) Greek period (d) Hindu period
Ans:D
98 When was Mahatma Gandhi born?
(a) October 2, 1869 (b) October 2, 1901 (c) October 2, 1879 (d) October 2, 1890
Ans:A
99 Who introduced leather coins?
(a) Ibrahim Lodhi (b) Mohammad Tuglak (c) Jahangir (d) Akbar
Ans:B
100 Who introduced paper currency in India?
(a) Hindu Kings (b) Muslim rulers (c) The British rulers (d) The Greek conquerors
Ans:C
(a) Parmar (b) Pratihara (c) Rathor (d) Sisodiya
Ans:B
2. Which amidst the following was not a fort of the Maratha ruler Shivaji?
(a) Sindhudurg (b) Raigad (c) Amber (d) Padmadurg
Ans:C
3. Which Sikh Guru was executed by Aurangzeb?
(a) Guru Arjun Dev (b) Guru Ram Das (c) Guru Teg Bahadur (d) Guru Gobind Singh
Ans:C
4. Which Muslim ruler was keen to have friendly relations with the Rajputs
(a) Akbar (b) Humayun (c) Babar (d) Aurangzeb
Ans:A
5. Which of the following rulers had the title Kaviraja
(a) Kumaragupta (b) Chanragupta (c) Skandagupta (d) Samudragupta
Ans:D
6. Who among the following Indian rulers established embassies in foreign countries on modern lines
(a) Tipu sultan (b) Mir Quasim (c) Haider Ali (d) Shah Alam II
Ans:D
7. ‘Nav Ratnas’ (nine gems) were the famous personalities associated with the court of:
(a) Chandra Gupta II (b) Harshavardhana (c) Narasimsha Varman (d) Samudra Gupta
Ans:A
8. Who pursued the policy "Blood and Iron"
(a) Balban (b) Firuz Tughlaq (c) Malik Kafur (d) Alauddin Khilji
Ans:A
9. The main centre or meeting point of Indo-Roman trade in ancient times was
(a) Rome (b) Calicut (c)Alexandria (d) Karaikkal
Ans:B
10. Who built a tomb for Sher Shah at Sasaram
(a) Ibrahim Shah (b) Islam Shah (c) Sher Shah (d) Sikandar Shah
Ans:D
11. The first major inscription in classical Sanskrit is that of
(a) Rudradaman (b) Chandragupta Vikramaditya (c) Kanishka (d) Samudragupta
Ans:A
12. Which ruler went to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism
(a) Ashoka (b) Samudragupta (c) Sanghamitra (d) Chitragupta
Ans:C
13. Temple architecture was most developed under
(a) Rastrakutas (b) Pallavas (c) Pandyas (d) Cheras
Ans:B
14. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta period, women & Sudras speak
(a) Prakrit (b) Sauraseni (c) Pali (d) Sanskrit
Ans:A
15. Sir Thomas Rose visited the court of
(a) Akbar (b) Jehangir (c) Shajahan (d) Aurangazeeb
Ans:B
16. The capital of Mysore during Tipu Sultan’s rule was
(a) Bangalore (b) Devagiri (c) Coimbatoor (d) Srirangapattanam
Ans:D
17. Who among the following was a famous astronomer
(a) Bhanabhatta (b) Vishakadatta (c) Nagarjuna (d) Aryabhatta
Ans:D
18. The Hathigumpha inscription (near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa) relates to the king
(a) Susharma (b) Hala (c) Kharavela (d) Pulamayi
Ans:C
19. Which of the following were the first rulers in India to issue coins which can be definitely attributed to the kings
(a) Shakas (b) Kushans (c) Indo-Greeks (d) Parthians
Ans:C
20. Which of the following Shaka king reconstructed the Sudarshana lake
(a) Rudradaman – I (b) Manes (c) Chastana (d) Bhumaka21
Ans:A
21. Which language was used in the literature of sangam period
(a) Kannada (b) Telugu (c) Tamil (d) Sanskrit
Ans:C
22. What was the type of marriage in the Vedic period in which, in place of the dowry, there was a token bride price of a cow and a bull
(a) Asura (b) Arsa (c) Gantharva (d) Rakshsa
Ans:A
23. At the earlier stage backward classes movement means
(a) Santal movement (b) Non-Brahmin movement (c) Harijan movement (d) Antirulers movement
Ans:B
24. The large residential university established in ancient time was at
(a) Cochin (b) Vaishali (c) Nalanda (d) Harappa
Ans:C
25. Which among the following dynasties had the strongest navy
(a) Chalukya (b) Chola (c) Gupta (d) Pallava
Ans:B
26 .Which of the following Mughal emperor’s tomb is outside India
(a) Akbar (b) Shajahan (c) Aurangazeb (d) Jehangir
Ans:D
27 .Which of the following animals was generally not known to the Indus Valley People
(a) Horse (b) Rhinoceros (c) Bull (d) Cow
Ans:A
28. .Alexander the remained in India for ...... months
(a) 24 (b) 32 (c) 19 (d) 28
Ans:C
29 Artists belonged to Gandhara school of art used
(a) Grey sand stones (b) White marbles (c) Red sand stones
Ans:A
30 Who was the first ruler of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal?
(a) Gopala (b) Devapala (c) Vigropala (d) Dharmapala
Ans:A
31 Who introduced first the famous token currency system in India?
(a) Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlak (b) Muhamad-bin-Tughlak (c) Firoz Tughlak
Ans:B
32 The Chalukya King who had the title of Sri Prithvi-Vallabha and Parameswara was
(a) Pulakesin I (b) Maharaja Kirthivarman (c) Pulakesin II (d) Mangalesa
Ans:C
33 The Meenahshi temple at Madurai is the monument of
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas (c) Cholas (d) Cheras
Ans:B
34 Who amidst the following lived the earliest?
(a) Panini (b) Asvaghosha (c) Bhasa (d) Kalidasa
Ans:A
35 Where is the tomb built by Shahjahan situated?
(a) Red Fort (b) Taj Mahal (c) Agra Fort (d) Sikandara
Ans:
36 Which one of the following is not depicted on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka?
(a) Deer (b) Horse (c) Elephant (d) Lion
Ans:
37 In 1717, which Mughal Emperor gave the English East India Company a Firman granting trade privileges in India?
(a) Shah Alam II (b) Bahadur Shah (c) Jahandar Shah (d) Farrukhsiyar
Ans:
38 The Treaty of Bassein was signed with the British by Peshwa
(a) Madhav Rao (b) Balaji Baji Rao (c) Baji Rao I (d) Baji Rao II
Ans:
39 Who among the following gave asylum to Zoroastri who fled by sea and by the coastal route from Persia to Western India in the early 8th century?
(a) Chalukyas (b) Cholas (c) Hoysalas (d) Rashtrakutas
Ans:
40 The Mughal Empire extended up to Tamil territory in the South under the reign of
(a) Akbar (b) Aurangazeb (c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan
Ans:
41 The first dynasty of the Vijayanagar Kingdom was
(a) Hoysala (b) Sangama (c) Saluva (d) Tuluva
Ans:
42 Who among the following was the famous ruler of ancient India, who adopted Jain dharma at the last
(a) Chandragupta (b) Samudragupta (c) Asoka (d) Bindusare
Ans:
43 Which among the following rulers started ‘Ilahi Calendar’ in 1583
(a) Babur (b) Akbar (c) Shahjahan (d) Sher Shah
Ans:
44 Which of the following was not a centre of learning in ancient India
(a) Taxila (b) Koushambi (c) Vikramshila (d) Nalanda
Ans:
45 Who was the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
(a) Firuz Shah Tughluq (b) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah II (c) Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (d) Nasrat Shah
Ans:
46 The founder of the autonomous kingdom of Avadh was
(a) Shuja-ud-Daula (b) Saadat Khan Burhan-ul Mulk (c) Safdarjung (d) Sher Shah
Ans:
47 The destruction of the Mauryan Empire was followed by a series of invasions, and the first invade India were the
(a) Batrian-Greeks (b) Parthi (c) Kushanas (d) Shakas
Ans:
48 Who among the following took the title of 'Vikramaditya'?
(a) Chandragupta I (b) Chandragupta II (c) Samudragupta (d) Skandagupta
Ans:
49 Which dynasty developed Mahabalipuram?
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas (c) Cholas (d) Chalukyas
Ans:
50 Who among the following resisted the British Ambitions, the maximum?
(a) Mughals (b) Marathas (c) Rajputs (d) Sikhs
Ans:
51 Two principal monuments of Ala-ud-din Khiliji's reign—the Jama'at Khana Masjid and Alai Darwaja were constructed at
(a) Hyderabad (b) Mysore (c) Delhi (d) Agra
Ans:C
52 Who among the following Mugal Emperors had the longest reign?
(a) Bahadur Shah (b) Jahandar Shah (c) Farrukhsiyar (d) Muhammad Shah
Ans:D
53 The main cause of the conflict between Nawab Sirajuddaulah and the East India Company was that
(a) the British opposed the succession of Sirajuddaulah
(b) the British misused the trade concessions.
(c) the British attacked the French settlement of Chandranagar in Bengal.
(d) the incident of Black Hole had occurred
Ans:C
54 Which of the following was the physician who adored Kanishka’s court
(a) Vasumita (b) Charaka (c) Parsva (d) Asvaghosha
Ans:B
55 Which of the following king started the ‘Vikram Sanvad’
(a) Kanishka (b) Vikramaditya (c) Rudradaman (d) Kadphises
Ans:B
56 Which of the following is a port town of Indus Valley Civilization
(a) Harappa (b) Ropar (c) Banawali (d) Lothal
Ans:D
57 Chinese pilgrim who visited India during Harsha Vardhana’s period was
(a) Hiuen Tsang (b) Fa-hien (c) I’tsing (d) Nishka
Ans:A
58 Who introduced the famous Persian festival of Nauroz
(a) Alauddin Khilji (b) Iltumish (c) Firoz Tughlaq (d) Balban
Ans:D
59 The Hoysala’s capital was
(a) Warangal (b) Devagiri (c) Dwarasamudra (d) Krishnagiri
Ans:C
60 Which rulers built Ellora temple
(a) Chalukya (b) Rashtrakuta (c) Pallava (d) Sunga
Ans:B
61 The literature of the Sangam age was written mostly in the form of
(a) Prose (b) Poetry (c) Drama (d) All of these
Ans:B
62 Who among the following was a great musician in the court of Akbar
(a) Abdul Fazal (b) Amir Khusro (c) Ramdas (d) Ten
Ans:D
63 Which among the following ports was called Babul Makkha (Gate of Makkah) during the Mughal period
(a) Broach (b) Calcutta (c) Surat (d) Calicut
Ans:C
64 The development of architecture was at its peak during the reign of
(a) Nandas (b) Cholas (c) Guptas
Ans:C
65 Who among the following ruler was a famous musician
(a) Swathi Thirunal (b) Moolam Thirunal (c) Marthanda Varma (d) Sri Chithira Thirunal
Ans:A
66 Who among the following Sult of Delhi had accepted the suzerainty of the Timurid ruler Mirza Shah Rukh?
(a) Firuz Tughlaq (b) Mahmad Tughlaq (c) Khizr Khan Sayyid (d) Sikandar Lodhi
Ans:C
67 Who among the following joined Mir Qasim and Shuja-ud-Daula in declaring war upon the English East India Company and was later defeated by the British at the Battle of Buxar?
(a) Jahandar Shah (b) Farrukhsiyar (c) Muhammad Shah (d) Shah Alam II
Ans:D
68 How did the dynasty of Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar come to an end?
(a) Ahmadnagar was annexed into Mughal empire and Husain Shah was consigned to life imprisonment
(b) Mughal troops destroyed Daulatabad fort and killed Nizam-ul Mulk of Ahmadnagar
(c) Fateh Khan usurped the throne from Nizam-ul Mulk
(d) Malik Ambar was defeated in a battle with Mughals in 1631 and the entire royal family was killed by the Mughal troops
Ans:A
69 Which of the following materials was mainly used in the manufacture of Harappan seals?
(a) Terra cotta (b) Bronze (c) Copper (d) Iron
Ans:A
70 Which type of ancient script did the Harapp use?
(a) Pictographic (b) Linear (c) Hieroglyphic (d) Symbolic
Ans:A
71 The relics of Indus Valley Civilisation indicate that the main occupation of the people was:
(a) Agriculture (b) Cattle rearing (c) Commerce (d) Hunting
Ans:A
72 The ancient name of Bengal was
(a) Kamrupa (b) Vasta (c) Gauda (d) Vallabhi
Ans:C
73 'Charak' was the famous court physician of
(a) Harsha (b) Chandragupta Maurya (c) Ashoka (d) Kanishka
Ans:D
74 The ancient name of North Bihar was
(a) Vriji (b) Vasta (c) Surasena (d) Avanti
Ans:A
75 Where did the traveler Ibn Batuta come from?
(a) Persia (b) Morocco (c) Turkey (d) Central Asia
Ans:B
76 Which among the following is the oldest dynasty?
(a) Maurya (b) Gupta (c) Kushan (d) Kanva
Ans:A
77 Where was Akbar born?
(a) Delhi (b) Agra (c) Amarkal (d) Kannauj
Ans:C
78 Among the following, one was NOT an ancient Indian mathematician
(a) Chandra Gupta Maurya (b) Boudhayana (c) Bhaskaran II (d) Sankaravarman
Ans:A
79 Taj Mahal was built by
(a) Akbar the Great (b) Jahangir (c) Shah Jahan (d) Babur
Ans:C
80 Kautilya, the author of Arthasathra was a contempoary of
(a) Asoka (b) Samura Gupta (c) Harshavardhana (d) Chandra Gupta Maurya
Ans:D
81 The Golden Temple at Amritsar was built by
(a) Guru Nanak (b) Guru Arjan Dev (c) Guru Tej Bahadur (d) Gobind Sing
Ans:B
82 What is history?
(a) Story of the past events (b) Story of present events (c) Story of future events (d) All of them
Ans:A
83 What should a genuine history deal with?
(a) Lives of kings (b) Lives of masses of people (c) Lives of feudal lords (d) All of them
Ans:B
84 What is history made of?
(a) Lives of kings (b) Battles (c) Law and order (d) All of the above
Ans:D
85 What is most important part of history?
(a) Monarchs (b) Generals who win wars (c) Common people (d) Saints and sages
Ans:C
86 Where do we find the remains of Buddhist religion?
(a) Thailand (b) Sri Lanka (c) Afghanistan (d) All of the above
Ans:D
87 What was Burma before its independence?
(a) A part of India (b) A part of China (c) A part of Thailand (d) A part of Malaysia
Ans:A
88 When was the World War fought?
(a) 1915 (b) 1942 (c) Both (d) Neither
Ans:C
89 Who helped America the most in getting freedom from the British?
(a) Italy (b) Canada (c) France (d) India
Ans:C
90 Who were pilgrim Fathers?
(a) Jew pilgrims to Jerusalem (b) Hindu pilgrims to Hardwar (c) First British people going to USA (d) Indian Buddhists in China
Ans:C
91 Why did Ary come to India?
(a) To find grass for their cattle (b) To hunt tigers (c) To drive out Tamils (d) To conquer land
Ans:A
92 Which Revolution fathered Russian Revolution?
(a) French revolution (b) American Revolution (c) Industrial Revolution (d) All of them
Ans:D
93 Who first built the Grand Trunk Road?
(a) Humayun (b) Sher Shah Suri (c) Shahjahan (d) Jahangir
Ans:B
94 Who is USA's Father of the Nation?
(a) Abraham Lincoln (b) Washington (c) Jefferson (d) Roosevelt
Ans:B
95 Who fought the First World War?
(a) Germany (b) British (c) France (d) All of them
Ans:D
96 Who fought the Second World War?
(a) Hitler (b) Churchill (c) Stalin (d) All of the
Ans:D
97 Which period came first?
(a) British period (b) Muslim period (c) Greek period (d) Hindu period
Ans:D
98 When was Mahatma Gandhi born?
(a) October 2, 1869 (b) October 2, 1901 (c) October 2, 1879 (d) October 2, 1890
Ans:A
99 Who introduced leather coins?
(a) Ibrahim Lodhi (b) Mohammad Tuglak (c) Jahangir (d) Akbar
Ans:B
100 Who introduced paper currency in India?
(a) Hindu Kings (b) Muslim rulers (c) The British rulers (d) The Greek conquerors
Ans:C
General Questions About The Earth and the Solar System
General Questions About The Earth and the Solar System
The Earth is a member of the Solar System. It is one of nine major planets revolving round the Sun. Of these, Mercury and Venus are nearer, and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are farther away from the Sun than the Earth. The planets radiate no light of their own, but shine with that reflected from the Sun. The Sun has a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 Kms) and it is 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 Kms) from the Earth.
The Sun is a star. The stars, unlike the planets, are self-luminous bodies. The other stars appear small because they are so far away; the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is 175,000 times more distant from us than the Sun. The Moon is a dead planet. It is about 240,000 miles (386,000 Kms) from the Earth. The Moon revolves round the Earth taking approximately 29 days to complete one round.
The phases of the Moon are the result of its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun. The Moon’s orbit is ecliptical and inclined at an angle of 5o to the plane of the Earth’s orbit. This explains why we do not have a total eclipse of the Sun every time there is a new moon.
The Earth:
The Earth is a sphere but it is not a perfect sphere. It is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. The circumference of the earth is approximately 25,000 miles (40,000 Kms). It rotates on its axis once in every 24 hours, spinning from west to east. Besides spinning on its axis, it also moves round the Sun, called the revolution. Its orbit round the Sun is oval or ecliptical.
The time taken to complete one revolution is approximately 365¼ days or one year. For convenience, one year is taken as 365 days and the shortfall of ¼ day each year is made good in the Leap Year which consists of 366 days. The Earth’s axis inclined to the plane of its orbit at an angle of 66½O.
The seasons are due to the change of the Earth’s position in the course of its revolution about the Sun, and to the inclination of its axis. The Equator is an imaginary line drawn round the Earth midway between the Poles. There are two other lines, namely, Tropic of Cancer (23½O N) and the Tropic of Capricon (23½O S). The word tropic means, ‘turning place’.
The inclination of the Earth’s axis together with its revolution round the Sun is the cause of the varying length of day and night in different parts of the world. On March 21 (Vernal Equinox) and September 23 (Autumnal Equinox) the Sun is overhead at the Equator. On these dates, except at the Poles, (a) days and nights are equal all over the world; and (b) the Sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west at all places on the Earth’s surface. At the Equator itself days and nights are equal throughout the year. Between March 21 and September 23, when the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, the days are longer than the nights throughout the Northern Hemisphere and there is continuous daylight at the North Pole. Similar conditions are experienced in the Southern Hemisphere and the South Pole between September 25 and March 21.
Latitude and Longitude:
Latitude is distance, measured in degrees, north or south of the Equator. Longitude is distance, measured in degrees, east or west of any fixed meridian. The meridian passing through Greenwich is numbered 0O. On a globe the meridians are numbered from 0O to 180O E (East) or W (West). At the equator the degrees are 69 to 70 miles apart (25000÷360). Since earth completes one rotation on its axis in 24 hours, 360 meridians pass under the Sun in that time. Therefore, 1 degree passes under the Sun every 4 minutes.
International Date Line:
If we travelled westward to a place X on longitude 180o W, the time there would be 12 hours behind Greenwich time (180 x 4 minutes = 720 minutes = 12 hours). If we journeyed eastward to a place Y on longitude 180o E, the time there would be 12 hours ahead of Greenwich time. Thus X and Y both on 180o have the same time but differ in date by a day (12 hours + 12 hours = 24 hours). To overcome the confusion that would otherwise arise, the International Date Line has been established.
It runs along 180o E or W. Westward-bound vessels crossing the Date Line drop a day from the calendar, while those going eastward add a day by giving the same date to two consecutive days. Instead of changing the time exactly according to change in degrees at the rate of 4 minutes per degree, certain time zones have been established. All places in the same area or time zone or time belt, use what is called Standard Time. Thus we have the Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T) and the Indian Standard Time (I.S.T). There are five time-belts in Canada and four in United States.
The Lithosphere:
The mass of the Earth is generally divided into three layers, namely, Crust, Mantle and Core. The Lithosphere is the name given to the outer Crust which is not more than 10 miles thick. It is made up of a great variety of rocks, soils, etc.
Rocks:
1. Sedimentary Rocks:These rocks are made up of deposits laid down on the floor of river beds, lakes and seas. Examples:Sand and sandstone, clay, lime stone, chalk and carbonaceous rocks, such as lignite, coal and anthracite.
2. Igneous Rocks:These are primary rocks which are formed by cooling and solidification of molten lava. When such rocks are poured out on the surface they are known as Volcanic rocks, e.g. basalt. When the molten material solidifies at considerable depth, plutonic rocks are formed, e.g. granite.
3. Metamorphic Rocks:These rocks are formed as a result of alteration by extreme heat and or pressure of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Example, slate, gneiss, schist etc.
Soil:
The upper layers of rocks weather to form the soil. There are three distinct layers of soil. The uppermost layer forms the top soil. The second layer is called the subsoil. The third layer is made up of decomposing and much-broken rock, known as mantle- rock. The type of soil depends on a number of factors, namely, climatic conditions, the nature of the parent rock, relief, vegetation and the period over which it has been worked by man. Soils may by broadly classified as (a) Forest, (b) Grassland and (c) Desert types.
Mountains:
In past geological ages disturbances in the Earth’s interior have caused crumpling and cracking of the crust. This has resulted in great upholds forming Fold- Mountains which are mainly made up of folded strata of sedimentary rocks, e.g. the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. The mountain structures worn down by prolonged denudation are known as Residual Mountains, e.g. Highlands of Scotland and Scandinavia.
Denudation:
The process known as denudation or the wearing away of the land is continually going on. The chief causes of such erosion are (a) changes in temperature; (b) frost; (c) winds; (d) water, including rivers; (e) ice; and (f) the ction of the sea. Steps to combat soil erosion include (i) terracing; (ii) contour ploughing; (iii) strip cropping (iv) planting shelter belts of trees; and (v) plugging the gullies by building small dams etc.
The Atmosphere:
The air is composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with small proportions of carbon dioxide, water vapour and rarer gases like argon and neon. Atmosphere is 175 miles thick, but nine-tenths of the air composing it is found within 12 miles, and half within 3½ miles of the earth’s surface. We are concerned mainly with the lower layer of troposphere. The upper layers in the ascending order are Stratosphere, Mesosphere and Ionosphere. Troposphere extends to a distance of about ten kilometres.
Stratosphere is a region extending from an altitude of about 11 Km to 50 Km above the earth. The upper part of stratosphere has plenty of ozone which protects us from the fatal effects of Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Mesosphere is the next layer extending from 50 o 80 Kms above the earth. It is a very cold region. Ionosphere extends from about 60 Kms upwards. It includes Thermosphere and Exosphere which marks the outer limits of the earth’s atmosphere.
Wind is air in motion:
The chief cause of wind is difference in atmosphere pressure. One of the main reasons for differences in pressure is unequal heating of the air. From the high pressure belts the air flows outwards to the regions of low pressure. Owing to the rotation of the earth, the winds do not blow due north and south, but are deflected. In this deflection they obey Ferrel’s Law which states, “Any moving body on the earth surface including a current of air, tends to be deflected, the deflection being to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in southern hemisphere.†Land and seabreezed are local winds caused by the unequal heating of land and water. During the day the land becomes very much hotter than the sea, with the result that there is marked low pressure over the land. Thus the air over the sea flows rapidly loses heat, but the sea remains warm for a longer time.
Thus at night, heavy cool air blows from the land to take the place of warm air rising over the sea. The monsoon or seasonal winds may be regarded as land and sea breezes on a large scale, in which the time-frame is a year instead of a day. This phenomenon is to be found in south-east Asia, but is especially marked in the subcontinent of India. A cyclone is a portion of the atmosphere in which the pressure is lowest in the centre. The winds blow inwards in anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere cyclonic winds blow in a clockwise direction in accordance with Ferrel’s Law. An anticyclone is a portion of the atmosphere in which the pressure is highest in the centre. The winds blow outwards in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in an anti-clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Oceans:
It is estimated that 72% of the surface of the globe is covered with water. The Pacific, which is the greatest of all oceans, covers a third of the earth’s surface, its total area being greater than that of all the dry land. Atlantic is slightly less than half the size of the Pacific, yet so many great rivers flow into it that it receives half the drainage of the world. The other oceans are Indian, Mediterranean, Antarctic and Arctic. The average depth of the ocean is 12,500 feet, compared with the average height of the land which is about 2,500 feet. The greatest known depth is that of the Marianas Trench in the Pacific, where a depth of 35,800 feet has been recorded.
Tides:
Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction the ‘pull’ of the moon on the earth, sometimes assisted by and sometimes hindered by the Sun.At new and full moon, when the Sun, Moon and Earth are practically in a straight line the attractive force of the Sun increases that of the Moon. Such high tides are called spring tides.
Weather and Climates:
Weather may be defined as the condition of the atmosphere at any place at a particular time. The average weather conditions determine the climate. Humidity, temperature, elevation, distance from the sea, ocean currents, atmosphere pressure and prevailing winds combine to affect the climate of a region.
Humidity:
Humidity, the term used to express the dampness of the atmosphere, is due to the pressure of water vapour. Evaporation is the mean by which water is drawn off as invisible water vapour from oceans, lakes, rivers, etc., when the air contains as much water vapour as it can hold is said to be saturated. When saturated air is cooled, condensation takes place and some of the water which form the clouds grow larger, they precipitate i.e., fall to the earth as rain. The proportion of water vapour in the air, compared with the maximum it can hold at the same temperature, is known as Relative Humidity. Dew is caused by the condensation of water vapour on the cold ground during the night.
The temperature at which such condensation takes place is called the Dew Point. When condensation takes place near the surface (and not on the ground) the result is usually mist or fog. When condensation takes place at some distance from the ground, clouds are formed. When water vapour is condensed at a temperature below freezing point it forms snow. There are various kinds of clouds. The layer like clouds often seen on the horizon at sunrise and sunset are called stratus clouds. The light wispy clouds formed high in the sky are called cirrus clouds. The heaped up clouds, looking rather like masses of cotton wool are called cumulus clouds. The black rain clouds are known as nimbus.
Temperature:
Of all climatic factors, temperature is the most important. It affects man’s food, crops, dress and the type of dwelling he builds. Temperature decreases 1oF for every 300 feet above the sea-level. This decrease is largely due to the fact that the rarified air, found in elevated regions, absorbs less heat than the denser air at lower levels.
The Earth is a member of the Solar System. It is one of nine major planets revolving round the Sun. Of these, Mercury and Venus are nearer, and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are farther away from the Sun than the Earth. The planets radiate no light of their own, but shine with that reflected from the Sun. The Sun has a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 Kms) and it is 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 Kms) from the Earth.
The Sun is a star. The stars, unlike the planets, are self-luminous bodies. The other stars appear small because they are so far away; the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is 175,000 times more distant from us than the Sun. The Moon is a dead planet. It is about 240,000 miles (386,000 Kms) from the Earth. The Moon revolves round the Earth taking approximately 29 days to complete one round.
The phases of the Moon are the result of its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun. The Moon’s orbit is ecliptical and inclined at an angle of 5o to the plane of the Earth’s orbit. This explains why we do not have a total eclipse of the Sun every time there is a new moon.
The Earth:
The Earth is a sphere but it is not a perfect sphere. It is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. The circumference of the earth is approximately 25,000 miles (40,000 Kms). It rotates on its axis once in every 24 hours, spinning from west to east. Besides spinning on its axis, it also moves round the Sun, called the revolution. Its orbit round the Sun is oval or ecliptical.
The time taken to complete one revolution is approximately 365¼ days or one year. For convenience, one year is taken as 365 days and the shortfall of ¼ day each year is made good in the Leap Year which consists of 366 days. The Earth’s axis inclined to the plane of its orbit at an angle of 66½O.
The seasons are due to the change of the Earth’s position in the course of its revolution about the Sun, and to the inclination of its axis. The Equator is an imaginary line drawn round the Earth midway between the Poles. There are two other lines, namely, Tropic of Cancer (23½O N) and the Tropic of Capricon (23½O S). The word tropic means, ‘turning place’.
The inclination of the Earth’s axis together with its revolution round the Sun is the cause of the varying length of day and night in different parts of the world. On March 21 (Vernal Equinox) and September 23 (Autumnal Equinox) the Sun is overhead at the Equator. On these dates, except at the Poles, (a) days and nights are equal all over the world; and (b) the Sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west at all places on the Earth’s surface. At the Equator itself days and nights are equal throughout the year. Between March 21 and September 23, when the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, the days are longer than the nights throughout the Northern Hemisphere and there is continuous daylight at the North Pole. Similar conditions are experienced in the Southern Hemisphere and the South Pole between September 25 and March 21.
Latitude and Longitude:
Latitude is distance, measured in degrees, north or south of the Equator. Longitude is distance, measured in degrees, east or west of any fixed meridian. The meridian passing through Greenwich is numbered 0O. On a globe the meridians are numbered from 0O to 180O E (East) or W (West). At the equator the degrees are 69 to 70 miles apart (25000÷360). Since earth completes one rotation on its axis in 24 hours, 360 meridians pass under the Sun in that time. Therefore, 1 degree passes under the Sun every 4 minutes.
International Date Line:
If we travelled westward to a place X on longitude 180o W, the time there would be 12 hours behind Greenwich time (180 x 4 minutes = 720 minutes = 12 hours). If we journeyed eastward to a place Y on longitude 180o E, the time there would be 12 hours ahead of Greenwich time. Thus X and Y both on 180o have the same time but differ in date by a day (12 hours + 12 hours = 24 hours). To overcome the confusion that would otherwise arise, the International Date Line has been established.
It runs along 180o E or W. Westward-bound vessels crossing the Date Line drop a day from the calendar, while those going eastward add a day by giving the same date to two consecutive days. Instead of changing the time exactly according to change in degrees at the rate of 4 minutes per degree, certain time zones have been established. All places in the same area or time zone or time belt, use what is called Standard Time. Thus we have the Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T) and the Indian Standard Time (I.S.T). There are five time-belts in Canada and four in United States.
The Lithosphere:
The mass of the Earth is generally divided into three layers, namely, Crust, Mantle and Core. The Lithosphere is the name given to the outer Crust which is not more than 10 miles thick. It is made up of a great variety of rocks, soils, etc.
Rocks:
1. Sedimentary Rocks:These rocks are made up of deposits laid down on the floor of river beds, lakes and seas. Examples:Sand and sandstone, clay, lime stone, chalk and carbonaceous rocks, such as lignite, coal and anthracite.
2. Igneous Rocks:These are primary rocks which are formed by cooling and solidification of molten lava. When such rocks are poured out on the surface they are known as Volcanic rocks, e.g. basalt. When the molten material solidifies at considerable depth, plutonic rocks are formed, e.g. granite.
3. Metamorphic Rocks:These rocks are formed as a result of alteration by extreme heat and or pressure of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Example, slate, gneiss, schist etc.
Soil:
The upper layers of rocks weather to form the soil. There are three distinct layers of soil. The uppermost layer forms the top soil. The second layer is called the subsoil. The third layer is made up of decomposing and much-broken rock, known as mantle- rock. The type of soil depends on a number of factors, namely, climatic conditions, the nature of the parent rock, relief, vegetation and the period over which it has been worked by man. Soils may by broadly classified as (a) Forest, (b) Grassland and (c) Desert types.
Mountains:
In past geological ages disturbances in the Earth’s interior have caused crumpling and cracking of the crust. This has resulted in great upholds forming Fold- Mountains which are mainly made up of folded strata of sedimentary rocks, e.g. the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas. The mountain structures worn down by prolonged denudation are known as Residual Mountains, e.g. Highlands of Scotland and Scandinavia.
Denudation:
The process known as denudation or the wearing away of the land is continually going on. The chief causes of such erosion are (a) changes in temperature; (b) frost; (c) winds; (d) water, including rivers; (e) ice; and (f) the ction of the sea. Steps to combat soil erosion include (i) terracing; (ii) contour ploughing; (iii) strip cropping (iv) planting shelter belts of trees; and (v) plugging the gullies by building small dams etc.
The Atmosphere:
The air is composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with small proportions of carbon dioxide, water vapour and rarer gases like argon and neon. Atmosphere is 175 miles thick, but nine-tenths of the air composing it is found within 12 miles, and half within 3½ miles of the earth’s surface. We are concerned mainly with the lower layer of troposphere. The upper layers in the ascending order are Stratosphere, Mesosphere and Ionosphere. Troposphere extends to a distance of about ten kilometres.
Stratosphere is a region extending from an altitude of about 11 Km to 50 Km above the earth. The upper part of stratosphere has plenty of ozone which protects us from the fatal effects of Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Mesosphere is the next layer extending from 50 o 80 Kms above the earth. It is a very cold region. Ionosphere extends from about 60 Kms upwards. It includes Thermosphere and Exosphere which marks the outer limits of the earth’s atmosphere.
Wind is air in motion:
The chief cause of wind is difference in atmosphere pressure. One of the main reasons for differences in pressure is unequal heating of the air. From the high pressure belts the air flows outwards to the regions of low pressure. Owing to the rotation of the earth, the winds do not blow due north and south, but are deflected. In this deflection they obey Ferrel’s Law which states, “Any moving body on the earth surface including a current of air, tends to be deflected, the deflection being to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in southern hemisphere.†Land and seabreezed are local winds caused by the unequal heating of land and water. During the day the land becomes very much hotter than the sea, with the result that there is marked low pressure over the land. Thus the air over the sea flows rapidly loses heat, but the sea remains warm for a longer time.
Thus at night, heavy cool air blows from the land to take the place of warm air rising over the sea. The monsoon or seasonal winds may be regarded as land and sea breezes on a large scale, in which the time-frame is a year instead of a day. This phenomenon is to be found in south-east Asia, but is especially marked in the subcontinent of India. A cyclone is a portion of the atmosphere in which the pressure is lowest in the centre. The winds blow inwards in anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere cyclonic winds blow in a clockwise direction in accordance with Ferrel’s Law. An anticyclone is a portion of the atmosphere in which the pressure is highest in the centre. The winds blow outwards in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in an anti-clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Oceans:
It is estimated that 72% of the surface of the globe is covered with water. The Pacific, which is the greatest of all oceans, covers a third of the earth’s surface, its total area being greater than that of all the dry land. Atlantic is slightly less than half the size of the Pacific, yet so many great rivers flow into it that it receives half the drainage of the world. The other oceans are Indian, Mediterranean, Antarctic and Arctic. The average depth of the ocean is 12,500 feet, compared with the average height of the land which is about 2,500 feet. The greatest known depth is that of the Marianas Trench in the Pacific, where a depth of 35,800 feet has been recorded.
Tides:
Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction the ‘pull’ of the moon on the earth, sometimes assisted by and sometimes hindered by the Sun.At new and full moon, when the Sun, Moon and Earth are practically in a straight line the attractive force of the Sun increases that of the Moon. Such high tides are called spring tides.
Weather and Climates:
Weather may be defined as the condition of the atmosphere at any place at a particular time. The average weather conditions determine the climate. Humidity, temperature, elevation, distance from the sea, ocean currents, atmosphere pressure and prevailing winds combine to affect the climate of a region.
Humidity:
Humidity, the term used to express the dampness of the atmosphere, is due to the pressure of water vapour. Evaporation is the mean by which water is drawn off as invisible water vapour from oceans, lakes, rivers, etc., when the air contains as much water vapour as it can hold is said to be saturated. When saturated air is cooled, condensation takes place and some of the water which form the clouds grow larger, they precipitate i.e., fall to the earth as rain. The proportion of water vapour in the air, compared with the maximum it can hold at the same temperature, is known as Relative Humidity. Dew is caused by the condensation of water vapour on the cold ground during the night.
The temperature at which such condensation takes place is called the Dew Point. When condensation takes place near the surface (and not on the ground) the result is usually mist or fog. When condensation takes place at some distance from the ground, clouds are formed. When water vapour is condensed at a temperature below freezing point it forms snow. There are various kinds of clouds. The layer like clouds often seen on the horizon at sunrise and sunset are called stratus clouds. The light wispy clouds formed high in the sky are called cirrus clouds. The heaped up clouds, looking rather like masses of cotton wool are called cumulus clouds. The black rain clouds are known as nimbus.
Temperature:
Of all climatic factors, temperature is the most important. It affects man’s food, crops, dress and the type of dwelling he builds. Temperature decreases 1oF for every 300 feet above the sea-level. This decrease is largely due to the fact that the rarified air, found in elevated regions, absorbs less heat than the denser air at lower levels.
General Knowledge
General Knowledge : LANDMARKS : ARCHITECTURES, MONUMENTS, BUILDINGS, TOWNS AND PLACES
Ernakulam : in Kerala State is famous for its backwaters.
Fatehpur Sikri : 32 km from Agra; city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, now deserted.
Fleet Street : A street in London running from Temple far east wards to Ludgate Circus. The area (with adjoining streets) houses the offices, and printing establishments of many of the leading British newspapers and press agencies.
Gateway of India : in Mumbai harbour erected in 1911 on George V’s visit to India.
Gaya : (Bihar) the place where Lord Buddha got enlightenment; famous for pilgrimage.
Gibraltar : British fortress and naval base on west end of the Mediterranean (extreme south of Spain) key to the Mediterranean.
Golden Temple : in Amritsar (Punjab), sacred to the Sikhs.
Gol Gumbaz : largest Dome in Bijapur (Karnataka).
Gomateswara : (Karnataka) famous for the 2000 year old statue of Jain Sage carved out of a single stone.
Great Wall of China : 2400 km long wall; its construction was started by Chinese King Emperor Shih Hwang.
Gwalior : in Madhhya Pradesh famous for its Fort, Tansen’s Tomb, Rani Laxmi Bai’s Chhatri.
Hague, The : (The Netherlands) Seat of International Court of Justice; Art galleries.
Hampi : site ruins of Vijayanagar - ancient capital of Vijayanagar empire. It is in Karnataka.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon : one of the Seven Wonders of the World; planted near the Euphrates in 603 B.C.
Hiroshima : in Central Honshu (Japan) close to the ‘Island of Light’ with the famous Shinto temples; first city destroyed by atom bomb in the Second World War.
Howrah Bridge : a cantilever span bridge constructed over the river Hooghly connecting Howrah Railway Station with Kolkata.
Hyderabad-Secunderabad : Twin city-capital of Andhra Pradesh.It stands on the river Musi, known for Charminar, Osmania University, Salarjung Museum - one of the richest and most varied collections in Asia.
India Gate : A memorial in New Delhi facing the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Jaipur : capital of Rajasthan is famous for pottery, brassware, sculpture, ivory and sandalwood work and jewellery. Famous for Maharaja’s palace; Jai Singh’s observatory. Amber (ancient capital) Hawa Mahal.
Jallianwala Bagh : a garden in Amritsar; scene of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on 13th April 1919.
Jama Masjid : (Delhi) built by Shah Jehan, India’s biggest mosque.
Jamshedpur : (Bihar) centre of iron and steeel industry;Tata Iron and Steel Factory is located here.
Jantar Mantar : in Delhi, is an Observatory constructed in 1724 during the days of Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.
Jerusalem : ancient city and capital of Palestine known as ‘Holy City’. Christ was crucified here.
Jog Falls : also called Gersoppa Falls in Karnataka are one of the highest warerfalls in the world. These falls are formed by the river Sharasvati which takes a big leap down a steep rock from a height of 253 metres.
Juma Masjid, Mandu : is in Madhya Pradesh; it depicts a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture.
Kailasha Temple : rock-cut temple in Ellora caves.
Kalpakkam : near Chennai in Tamil Nadu is known for Chennai Atomic Power Project (MAPP).
Kanchi or Kancheepuram : Near Chennai was the ancient capital of ancient Pallavas; famous for ancient temples.
Kandahar : This is a town in Afghanistan where Pakistan backed 5 terrorists and forced the hijacked Indian Airlines lane IC 814 with 155 passengers and crew aboard to land at Kandahar Airport on December 25, 1999, keeping them hostage for seven days.
Kanya Kumari : in Tamil Nadu, famous temple (the Virgin Goddess) situated at Cape Comorin on the extreme southern tip of India where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean meet; a picturesque spot. Vivekananda Rock Memorial Buddha.
Kapilavastu : small kingdomin the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha.
Kaziranga : is a Game Sanctuary in Assam. It is the centre of the great Indian one-horned rhinos.
Khajuraho : in Madhya Pradesh famous for the group of highly ornate medieval Hindu temples.
Kodaikanal : is a town in Tamil Nadu famous for its Observatory for the study of Solar Physics.
Konarak : small town 16 km north of Puri (Orissa) famous for its Black Pagods; Sun Temple.
Kovalam : is a sea-beach about 16 km from Trivandrum in Kerala. Developed as a Tourist Resort by India Tourism Corporation.
Kremlin : Large fortified citadel in Moscow, now the headquarters of Russia. The Kremlin, originally built in 1156 by Yuri, (George) Dolgoruki, price of Suzdal became the centre around which Moscow has grown.
Qutub Minar : in Delhi (88.4 m high) is one of the master - pieces of Indian architecture and art. It is the biggest minaret in the world. Completed by Altamash in 1232 A.D.
Leaning Tower : (Pisa, Italy) 55 metres high.
Lumbini : birth place of Buddha. It is in Nepal. The Nepalese Government have plans to develop the place with the U.N. assistance as an Internatinal Tourist Resort. Madurai : in Tamil Nadu, famous for Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to Lord Siva.
Mahabalipuram : in Tamil Nadu on the Eastern Ghats, famous for temples and monumental architectures. An atomic power station is being set up near here at Kalpakkam.
Mathura : a holy city in Uttar Pradesh; Birth-place of Lord Krishna, Hindu temples; oil refinery.
Mecca : the holiest cityof the Mohammedan world in Arabia, where the Prophet was born. It stands in the desert. It is a place of pilgrimage and Muslims from all parts of the world visit the place it for Haj in every year.
Mount Blanc : highest mountain peak in Europe. It is in the Alps on the confines of Italy and France, longest road tunnel in the world.
Munich : (West Germany) scene of Munich pact; art galleries; The 20th Olympic Games (1972) were held here.
Nilgiris : mountain range in Tamil Nadu, tea plantations.
Panna : in M.P. Panna district is known for diamond mines. Panna town has several buildings of historical interest including Shri Baldeoji temple.
Pearl Harbour : in Hawaii Island (USA) Naval Base; scene of Japanese attack in World War II.
Pentagon : in Washington. It houses many Government offices of the War Department of the USA.
Petronas Twin Towers : Located in Kuala Lumpur with 88 storeys high, these are the tallest buildings in the World.
Philadelphia : (USA) place where Americans framed their Constitution and declared their Independence son 4th July, 1776.
Plassey : a village on the Ganges (West Bengal) Battle of Plassey was fought here in 1757 in which Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah and laid the foundation of British Rule in India.
Pokhran : The Nuclear test site in Rajasthan, 600 kms from Jaipur. The first nuclear test was conduted on May 18, 1974 and five more on May 11 and 13 1998.
Pondicherry : formerly a French possession, since taken by the India Govenement and now specified as a Union Territory. Aurobindo Ashram is established here. ‘Auroville’, an international township inmemory of Sri Aurobindo has been built here.
Pyramids of Egypt : are vast stone or brick-built structures on west bank of the Nile. They date back to about 300 B.C. The largest is called the Great Pyramid which is 146 metres high and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Three lakh men were employed for 20 years to build it. These Pyramids have inner chambers and subterranean entrances built by pharaohs as oval tombs.
Raj Ghat : On the bank of Jamuna in Delhi, Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
Rashtrapati Bhavan : official residence of the President of India in New Delhi; known as Viceragal Lodge during British reign.
Red Fort : Red-stone Fort built by Shah Jehan in Delhi near the Jamuna.
Red Square : It is a famous open space in Moscow linked with the Kremlin by three gates used for political demonstrations and processions. Lenin’s mausoleum is in the Red Square.
Rome : capital of Italy; on the River Tiber; one of the most famous cities of the world also known as Eternal City.
Sabarmati : in Gujarat State near Ahmedabad; Harijan Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi.
Sarnath : situated 8 km outside Varanasi. Saranath is the famous place of Buddhist pilgrimage in India. In the ‘Deer Park’ of Sarnath, Gautama Buddha preached his First Semon. Also located here is the famous Ashoka Pillar of polished sand-stone whose lion capital was adopted by the new Republic of India as the State Emblem.
Scotland Yard : the Metropoliton Police Headquarters in London from which the force is administered CID headquarters.
Seringapatnam : Seringapatnam was the capital of Karnataka during the rule of Tipu Sultan. The fourth and the last Mysore war was fought here. Tipu Sultan died here fighting bravely against the British forces.
Sriharikota : in the Nellore district on the Andhra coast is India’s Satellite Launching Centre. The Sriharikota Range (SHAR) comprises the Sriharikota Launch Complex, Rocket Shed Facility, Static Test and Evaluation Complex, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant and Sriharikota Common Facilities.
Suez Canal : Ship canal (Egypt) it connects the Mediterranean (Port Said) with the Red Sea (Suez).
Sunderbands : is a tract of forests and swamps - 264 km long and 129 km wide fringing the delta of the Ganges.
Taj Mahal : the white marble mausoleum built at Agra by Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Tanjore : (Tamil Nadu) famous for museum, temples and library. Brihadeeswara temple.
Taxila : in West Pakistan; site of excavation, old seat of Buddhist culture and famous for ancient Taxila University.
Tel Aviv : magnificent city in Palestine built by the Jews; capital of Israel.
Thumba : near Trivandrum in Kerala State is known as rocket launching station.
Tirupati : in Andhra State about 160 km to the northwest of Chennai is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateshwara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.
Trafalgar : Cape Trafalgar is famous for the naval battle fought between the British led by Admiral Nelson and an allied naval force of France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson won the battle though he was himself killed in action.
Triveni : in Allahabad (UP) Confluence of the Ganges, the Jamuna and the mythical Saraswati; a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.
Varanasi : or Banares is a town in UP very sacred to the Hindus. It is known as the religious capital of Hindu India. Famous for Banares Hindu University, Vishwanath Temple, Manmandir with Jaisingh’s Observatory, Ramnagar Fort etc.,
Vatican : the Papal State of Italy; an independent territory; the palace of Pope in Rome. It includes the Church of St. Peter.
Victoria Falls : on the River Zambesi, Zambia-Central Africa. These Falls, the greatest in the world are 1700 metres wide.
Victoria Memorial : a magnificent building in Calcutta having an art gallery and a well-laid out garden attached to it.
Vijay Ghat : On the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi is Samadhi of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India.
Visakhapatnam : big harbour on the eastern coast of India; ship building yard.
Viswa Shanti Stupa : (World Peace Pagoda) 45 m high stupa raised a top, the picturesque Ratnagiri hill, it is the first stupa of its kind in India.
Vivekananda Rock : is situated near Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India’s coastline. It has been so named in memory of Swami Vivekananda.
Wagah Border : This is a border between India and Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee crossed the border to enter Pakistan by bus as part of his peace initiative with India's neighbour on February 20, 1999.
Wall Street : a street in New York, centre of US Banking and Finance.
Wardha : (Maharashtra State) Mahatma Gandhi lived here for several years; centre of cotton trade.
Waterloo : Belgium; famous for the battle of Waterloo which marked the end of Napoleon’s power.
Wellington : in the Nilgiris hills (Tamil Nadu) is known for Defence Services Staff College.
White Hall : London, Government Offices.
White House : is the Official Residence of the President of the USA. It is located at 600. Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.
Wimbledon : in London, famous for Lawn Tennis Court.
Yellow Sea : Sea between northern China and Korea.
Zambesi : River in South East Africa. It flows east to Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean.
Zojila : a pass in the way from Srinagar (Kashmir) to Leh and then to Yerkand in Tibet.
Ernakulam : in Kerala State is famous for its backwaters.
Fatehpur Sikri : 32 km from Agra; city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, now deserted.
Fleet Street : A street in London running from Temple far east wards to Ludgate Circus. The area (with adjoining streets) houses the offices, and printing establishments of many of the leading British newspapers and press agencies.
Gateway of India : in Mumbai harbour erected in 1911 on George V’s visit to India.
Gaya : (Bihar) the place where Lord Buddha got enlightenment; famous for pilgrimage.
Gibraltar : British fortress and naval base on west end of the Mediterranean (extreme south of Spain) key to the Mediterranean.
Golden Temple : in Amritsar (Punjab), sacred to the Sikhs.
Gol Gumbaz : largest Dome in Bijapur (Karnataka).
Gomateswara : (Karnataka) famous for the 2000 year old statue of Jain Sage carved out of a single stone.
Great Wall of China : 2400 km long wall; its construction was started by Chinese King Emperor Shih Hwang.
Gwalior : in Madhhya Pradesh famous for its Fort, Tansen’s Tomb, Rani Laxmi Bai’s Chhatri.
Hague, The : (The Netherlands) Seat of International Court of Justice; Art galleries.
Hampi : site ruins of Vijayanagar - ancient capital of Vijayanagar empire. It is in Karnataka.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon : one of the Seven Wonders of the World; planted near the Euphrates in 603 B.C.
Hiroshima : in Central Honshu (Japan) close to the ‘Island of Light’ with the famous Shinto temples; first city destroyed by atom bomb in the Second World War.
Howrah Bridge : a cantilever span bridge constructed over the river Hooghly connecting Howrah Railway Station with Kolkata.
Hyderabad-Secunderabad : Twin city-capital of Andhra Pradesh.It stands on the river Musi, known for Charminar, Osmania University, Salarjung Museum - one of the richest and most varied collections in Asia.
India Gate : A memorial in New Delhi facing the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Jaipur : capital of Rajasthan is famous for pottery, brassware, sculpture, ivory and sandalwood work and jewellery. Famous for Maharaja’s palace; Jai Singh’s observatory. Amber (ancient capital) Hawa Mahal.
Jallianwala Bagh : a garden in Amritsar; scene of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on 13th April 1919.
Jama Masjid : (Delhi) built by Shah Jehan, India’s biggest mosque.
Jamshedpur : (Bihar) centre of iron and steeel industry;Tata Iron and Steel Factory is located here.
Jantar Mantar : in Delhi, is an Observatory constructed in 1724 during the days of Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.
Jerusalem : ancient city and capital of Palestine known as ‘Holy City’. Christ was crucified here.
Jog Falls : also called Gersoppa Falls in Karnataka are one of the highest warerfalls in the world. These falls are formed by the river Sharasvati which takes a big leap down a steep rock from a height of 253 metres.
Juma Masjid, Mandu : is in Madhya Pradesh; it depicts a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture.
Kailasha Temple : rock-cut temple in Ellora caves.
Kalpakkam : near Chennai in Tamil Nadu is known for Chennai Atomic Power Project (MAPP).
Kanchi or Kancheepuram : Near Chennai was the ancient capital of ancient Pallavas; famous for ancient temples.
Kandahar : This is a town in Afghanistan where Pakistan backed 5 terrorists and forced the hijacked Indian Airlines lane IC 814 with 155 passengers and crew aboard to land at Kandahar Airport on December 25, 1999, keeping them hostage for seven days.
Kanya Kumari : in Tamil Nadu, famous temple (the Virgin Goddess) situated at Cape Comorin on the extreme southern tip of India where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean meet; a picturesque spot. Vivekananda Rock Memorial Buddha.
Kapilavastu : small kingdomin the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha.
Kaziranga : is a Game Sanctuary in Assam. It is the centre of the great Indian one-horned rhinos.
Khajuraho : in Madhya Pradesh famous for the group of highly ornate medieval Hindu temples.
Kodaikanal : is a town in Tamil Nadu famous for its Observatory for the study of Solar Physics.
Konarak : small town 16 km north of Puri (Orissa) famous for its Black Pagods; Sun Temple.
Kovalam : is a sea-beach about 16 km from Trivandrum in Kerala. Developed as a Tourist Resort by India Tourism Corporation.
Kremlin : Large fortified citadel in Moscow, now the headquarters of Russia. The Kremlin, originally built in 1156 by Yuri, (George) Dolgoruki, price of Suzdal became the centre around which Moscow has grown.
Qutub Minar : in Delhi (88.4 m high) is one of the master - pieces of Indian architecture and art. It is the biggest minaret in the world. Completed by Altamash in 1232 A.D.
Leaning Tower : (Pisa, Italy) 55 metres high.
Lumbini : birth place of Buddha. It is in Nepal. The Nepalese Government have plans to develop the place with the U.N. assistance as an Internatinal Tourist Resort. Madurai : in Tamil Nadu, famous for Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to Lord Siva.
Mahabalipuram : in Tamil Nadu on the Eastern Ghats, famous for temples and monumental architectures. An atomic power station is being set up near here at Kalpakkam.
Mathura : a holy city in Uttar Pradesh; Birth-place of Lord Krishna, Hindu temples; oil refinery.
Mecca : the holiest cityof the Mohammedan world in Arabia, where the Prophet was born. It stands in the desert. It is a place of pilgrimage and Muslims from all parts of the world visit the place it for Haj in every year.
Mount Blanc : highest mountain peak in Europe. It is in the Alps on the confines of Italy and France, longest road tunnel in the world.
Munich : (West Germany) scene of Munich pact; art galleries; The 20th Olympic Games (1972) were held here.
Nilgiris : mountain range in Tamil Nadu, tea plantations.
Panna : in M.P. Panna district is known for diamond mines. Panna town has several buildings of historical interest including Shri Baldeoji temple.
Pearl Harbour : in Hawaii Island (USA) Naval Base; scene of Japanese attack in World War II.
Pentagon : in Washington. It houses many Government offices of the War Department of the USA.
Petronas Twin Towers : Located in Kuala Lumpur with 88 storeys high, these are the tallest buildings in the World.
Philadelphia : (USA) place where Americans framed their Constitution and declared their Independence son 4th July, 1776.
Plassey : a village on the Ganges (West Bengal) Battle of Plassey was fought here in 1757 in which Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah and laid the foundation of British Rule in India.
Pokhran : The Nuclear test site in Rajasthan, 600 kms from Jaipur. The first nuclear test was conduted on May 18, 1974 and five more on May 11 and 13 1998.
Pondicherry : formerly a French possession, since taken by the India Govenement and now specified as a Union Territory. Aurobindo Ashram is established here. ‘Auroville’, an international township inmemory of Sri Aurobindo has been built here.
Pyramids of Egypt : are vast stone or brick-built structures on west bank of the Nile. They date back to about 300 B.C. The largest is called the Great Pyramid which is 146 metres high and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Three lakh men were employed for 20 years to build it. These Pyramids have inner chambers and subterranean entrances built by pharaohs as oval tombs.
Raj Ghat : On the bank of Jamuna in Delhi, Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
Rashtrapati Bhavan : official residence of the President of India in New Delhi; known as Viceragal Lodge during British reign.
Red Fort : Red-stone Fort built by Shah Jehan in Delhi near the Jamuna.
Red Square : It is a famous open space in Moscow linked with the Kremlin by three gates used for political demonstrations and processions. Lenin’s mausoleum is in the Red Square.
Rome : capital of Italy; on the River Tiber; one of the most famous cities of the world also known as Eternal City.
Sabarmati : in Gujarat State near Ahmedabad; Harijan Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi.
Sarnath : situated 8 km outside Varanasi. Saranath is the famous place of Buddhist pilgrimage in India. In the ‘Deer Park’ of Sarnath, Gautama Buddha preached his First Semon. Also located here is the famous Ashoka Pillar of polished sand-stone whose lion capital was adopted by the new Republic of India as the State Emblem.
Scotland Yard : the Metropoliton Police Headquarters in London from which the force is administered CID headquarters.
Seringapatnam : Seringapatnam was the capital of Karnataka during the rule of Tipu Sultan. The fourth and the last Mysore war was fought here. Tipu Sultan died here fighting bravely against the British forces.
Sriharikota : in the Nellore district on the Andhra coast is India’s Satellite Launching Centre. The Sriharikota Range (SHAR) comprises the Sriharikota Launch Complex, Rocket Shed Facility, Static Test and Evaluation Complex, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant and Sriharikota Common Facilities.
Suez Canal : Ship canal (Egypt) it connects the Mediterranean (Port Said) with the Red Sea (Suez).
Sunderbands : is a tract of forests and swamps - 264 km long and 129 km wide fringing the delta of the Ganges.
Taj Mahal : the white marble mausoleum built at Agra by Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Tanjore : (Tamil Nadu) famous for museum, temples and library. Brihadeeswara temple.
Taxila : in West Pakistan; site of excavation, old seat of Buddhist culture and famous for ancient Taxila University.
Tel Aviv : magnificent city in Palestine built by the Jews; capital of Israel.
Thumba : near Trivandrum in Kerala State is known as rocket launching station.
Tirupati : in Andhra State about 160 km to the northwest of Chennai is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateshwara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.
Trafalgar : Cape Trafalgar is famous for the naval battle fought between the British led by Admiral Nelson and an allied naval force of France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson won the battle though he was himself killed in action.
Triveni : in Allahabad (UP) Confluence of the Ganges, the Jamuna and the mythical Saraswati; a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.
Varanasi : or Banares is a town in UP very sacred to the Hindus. It is known as the religious capital of Hindu India. Famous for Banares Hindu University, Vishwanath Temple, Manmandir with Jaisingh’s Observatory, Ramnagar Fort etc.,
Vatican : the Papal State of Italy; an independent territory; the palace of Pope in Rome. It includes the Church of St. Peter.
Victoria Falls : on the River Zambesi, Zambia-Central Africa. These Falls, the greatest in the world are 1700 metres wide.
Victoria Memorial : a magnificent building in Calcutta having an art gallery and a well-laid out garden attached to it.
Vijay Ghat : On the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi is Samadhi of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India.
Visakhapatnam : big harbour on the eastern coast of India; ship building yard.
Viswa Shanti Stupa : (World Peace Pagoda) 45 m high stupa raised a top, the picturesque Ratnagiri hill, it is the first stupa of its kind in India.
Vivekananda Rock : is situated near Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India’s coastline. It has been so named in memory of Swami Vivekananda.
Wagah Border : This is a border between India and Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee crossed the border to enter Pakistan by bus as part of his peace initiative with India's neighbour on February 20, 1999.
Wall Street : a street in New York, centre of US Banking and Finance.
Wardha : (Maharashtra State) Mahatma Gandhi lived here for several years; centre of cotton trade.
Waterloo : Belgium; famous for the battle of Waterloo which marked the end of Napoleon’s power.
Wellington : in the Nilgiris hills (Tamil Nadu) is known for Defence Services Staff College.
White Hall : London, Government Offices.
White House : is the Official Residence of the President of the USA. It is located at 600. Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.
Wimbledon : in London, famous for Lawn Tennis Court.
Yellow Sea : Sea between northern China and Korea.
Zambesi : River in South East Africa. It flows east to Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean.
Zojila : a pass in the way from Srinagar (Kashmir) to Leh and then to Yerkand in Tibet.
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