Today’s GK Test Quiz

The veena is the oldest of Indian musical instruments. From the reference to Vedic writings, it can date back to around the first millennium B.C.

Chernozems are humus-rich grassland soils used extensively for growing cereals or for raising livestock. They are found in the middle latitudes of both hemispheres, in zones commonly termed prairie in North America, pampa in Argentina, and steppe in Asia or in eastern Europe.

The greatest development of the Kushana period was in the field of art. Gandhara School of art had developed during the reign of Kushana emperor Kanishka.

Barr body is the inactive X-chromosome in the somatic cells of mammalian females. Human females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. In all of the female somatic cells, which don't take part in sexual reproduction, one of the X chromosomes is active, and the other is inactivated in a process called lyonization, becoming the Barr body.

Xerophthalmia is a disease that causes dry eyes due to vitamin A deficiency. If it goes untreated, it can progress into night blindness or spots on the eyes. It can even damage the cornea of the eye and cause blindness.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas is used in a fire extinguisher because it displaces or reduces the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere around the fire. CO₂ is suitable for both electrical and flammable liquid fire types.

Savannah is a large, flat area of land covered with grass, usually with few trees. It is also known as tropical grasslands, which are found to the north and south of tropical rainforest biomes.

A Federal Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution is a feature to both the Indian Federation and the American Federation.

The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who according to the convention, invites the leader of the majority party (or alliance) in the Lok Sabha to form the Government.

The Reserve Bank has the sole authority to issue banknotes in India. The Currency notes of ₹2 and above denominations are banknotes and are issued with the signature of the Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The one rupee note is the only note bearing the signature of the Finance Secretary and not the Governor of the RBI.

The size of the landholdings is declining in India due to the shortage of land which has been used for industrial and other purposes. Many land goes to the private sector for setting up big projects. The main factors triggering land fragmentation are inheritance; population growth; land markets; and historical/ cultural background. Owning of land is a social status in India.

Gross domestic product (GDP) at factor cost is GDP at market prices minus net indirect taxes plus subsidies.

Herodotus (484-425/413 BCE) was a Greek writer who invented the field of study known today as history. He was called 'The Father of History' by the Roman writer and orator Cicero for his famous work The Histories.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya). He expounded Bhakti yoga and popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Yamunacharya renounced kingship and spent his last days in the service of the Lord at Srirangam and in laying the fundamentals of the Vishishta Advaita philosophy by writing four basic works on the subject.

The most remarkable feature of the Government of India Act 1935 was provincial autonomy. With the abolition of Dyarchy at provinces, the entire provincial administration was instructed to the responsible ministers who were controlled and removed by the provincial legislatures.

Longitudinal waves such as sound cannot travel through the vacuum as they need a medium to travel. Light and other types of electromagnetic waves are considered transverse waves. These waves travel through a vacuum as they do not need a medium for their propagation.

Bats produce echolocation by emitting ultrasound waves through their mouth or nose and listening to the echo. With this echo, the bat can determine the size, shape and texture of objects in its environment.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first female prime minister when she became Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 21 July 1960.

K2, at 8,611 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in India and second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. It lies in the Karakoram range, in part in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan held the office of the Vice President of India for two consecutive terms. He served as the first Vice-President of India. His office tenure as the first Vice-President was from May 13th 1952 to May 12th 1962.