General Knowledge (Static)

Haffkine Institute in Mumbai is a premier biomedical research institute known for producing anti-snake venom (ASV) and other antitoxins. It has been a major supplier of ASV in India for decades. The Pasteur Institute in France works on vaccines but is not the primary ASV producer for India.

The Ellora caves are a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 34 rock-cut caves representing three religious traditions: Buddhist (12 caves), Hindu (17 caves), and Jain (5 caves). They were constructed between the 6th and 10th centuries CE, showcasing religious harmony.

Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar served as the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1956. He had previously been the President (Speaker) of the Constituent Assembly and had extensive parliamentary experience. A. Anantha Sayanam Ayyangar was the second Speaker.

Gandhiji's concept of ahimsa (non-violence) was not passive cowardice but active resistance against wickedness and injustice. He described it as 'the weapon of the strong' - a positive force requiring moral courage to stand against evil without resorting to violence.

'The Flag on the Island' is a collection of short stories written by V.S. Naipaul, published in 1967. It explores themes of colonialism, identity, and post-colonial Caribbean society. Naipaul, a Trinidad-born writer, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001.

Diesel engines differ from petrol engines in three key ways: (1) No spark plugs - ignition is through compression heat, (2) Uses fuel oil (diesel) instead of petrol, (3) No carburetor - uses fuel injectors instead. All these differences combine to make diesel engines more efficient but heavier.

Countersign refers to the act of adding a second signature to authenticate or validate a document that has already been signed by another person. It's commonly used in formal documents, military orders, and financial transactions to provide an additional layer of verification and authority.

Law is a system of prescribed rules that govern human behavior in society. It establishes standards, maintains order, resolves disputes, and protects liberties and rights. Law follows human behavior but also prescribes rules that shape future behavior - option B captures this prescriptive nature best.

Objects appear a certain color because they reflect that color's light wavelengths and absorb others. A blue object reflects blue light and absorbs red and green wavelengths. In red light (which lacks blue wavelengths), no blue light is available to reflect, so the object appears black.

The French Revolution began in 1789 with the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, marking the end of absolute monarchy and the rise of democracy and republicanism. This event profoundly impacted political systems worldwide and became a symbol of popular uprising against oppression.

Mahatma Gandhi assumed leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1920, during the Nagpur Session. This marked the beginning of Gandhi's era in the freedom movement, where he transformed Congress into a mass organization focused on non-violent civil disobedience (Satyagraha) and swaraj.

Earthworms respire through their moist skin, which allows oxygen to diffuse directly into their bloodstream and carbon dioxide to diffuse out. They lack lungs or specialized respiratory organs, so their thin, moist skin serves as the primary surface for gas exchange.

Mahatma Gandhi consistently emphasized moral and spiritual transformation of individuals as the foundation for true independence. Unlike other leaders who focused on industrialization or economic development, Gandhi believed that raising the moral character of the people was essential for building a just society.

Galileo Galilei was a central figure of the Scientific Revolution during the Renaissance period, making groundbreaking contributions to physics, astronomy, and the scientific method. His work with telescopes and his defense of heliocentrism exemplify the Renaissance spirit of scientific inquiry and challenging established dogma.

The ABO blood group system classifies human blood into four main types based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens: Type A (A antigen only), Type B (B antigen only), Type AB (both antigens), and Type O (neither antigen). This classification system is fundamental for safe blood transfusion.

Mahmud of Ghazni (Mahmud Ghaznavi) invaded and destroyed the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat in 1024 AD. He conducted multiple raids into India, and the destruction of Somnath was one of his most infamous campaigns, aimed at plundering its legendary wealth and demonstrating Islamic power.

Correct answer is 1398 A.D.

The East-West Corridor of India's National Highway network connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat, spanning approximately 3,400 km across the breadth of the country. This corridor is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and the larger National Highway Development Project.

A State Governor does not appoint Judges of the High Court - they are appointed by the President of India in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the concerned state. The Governor appoints the Chief Minister, Advocate General, and Chairman of the State Public Service Commission, but High Court Judges are beyond the Governor's constitutional authority.

TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) and TRIMS (Trade-Related Investment Measures) are both agreements administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO). They establish international standards for intellectual property protection and regulate investment measures that affect trade, respectively.

Lakshya is a pilotless target aircraft developed by India's DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). It is used for aerial target practice and is remotely controlled, making it India's indigenous pilotless missile system. The other options (Agni, Akash, Trishul) are all manned missile systems.

Video cassettes (VHS format) play from only one side, unlike audio cassettes which have two sides. The magnetic tape in a video cassette is arranged as a single continuous loop that plays from beginning to end, and you don't need to flip it over to access more content.

Bahlol Lodhi (also spelled Bahlul Lodi) was the founder of the Lodhi dynasty in India. He established the dynasty in 1451 AD after capturing Delhi, becoming the first Afghan ruler to sit on the throne of Delhi. The Lodhi dynasty ruled for 76 years until 1526 when it was defeated by Babur.