General Knowledge

When milk turns sour, bacteria (mainly Lactobacillus) ferment lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid through the process of fermentation. This is what gives sour milk its characteristic tangy taste and is the principle behind yogurt production.

Dr. Vijay L. Kelkar was the Chairman of the 13th Finance Commission of India, which submitted its recommendations for the period 2010-2015. He is a renowned economist and has chaired several important government committees on fiscal reforms.

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) has eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Myanmar is geographically part of South Asia but is not a member of SAARC.

Sikander Lodhi (also known as Alexander Lodhi) was a ruler who banned the export of slaves from India in the 16th century. This was an early attempt to restrict the slave trade in the Indian subcontinent.

'The Shape of the Beast' is a collection of essays by Arundhati Roy, written between 2001-2007, covering topics like globalization, democracy, and human rights violations. The book presents her critical views on contemporary political and social issues in India and globally.

The Dronacharya Award is India's highest honor for outstanding coaches in sports and games. It was instituted in 1985 and recognizes coaches who have produced medal-winning athletes at international competitions like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Deka (R.C. Deka) served as the Director of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in 2011. He is a renowned ENT specialist and has held several prestigious positions in medical administration in India.

Jayadeva, a 12th-century Sanskrit poet, composed the Gita Govinda, which celebrates the divine love between Krishna and Radha. This work is considered a masterpiece of Vaishnava literature and has influenced devotional poetry across India.

Hemoglobin is the iron-containing pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs. It gives blood its red color and is essential for respiration.

April 2 is International Children's Book Day, chosen as it's the birthday of famous children's author Hans Christian Andersen. World Book Day is celebrated in March, while World Water Day and Earth Day are observed in March and April respectively.

Sarojini Naidu was appointed the first woman Governor of an Indian State (Uttar Pradesh) in 1947 after independence. She was also a renowned poet and freedom fighter known as the 'Nightingale of India'.

The Radcliffe Line, demarcated by Sir Cyril Radcliffe in 1947, separates India and Pakistan. The Durand Line is between Afghanistan and Pakistan, while the MacMahon Line separates India and China.

South Korea celebrates its Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) on August 15, 1945, marking freedom from Japanese colonial rule. Both India and South Korea gained independence from colonial powers on this date.

Nobel Prizes are awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics (established later in 1968). Music is not a Nobel Prize category, though the Polar Music Prize exists separately.

Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was a British theosophist, social reformer, and Indian independence activist.

The central theme of Ashoka's Dharma after the Kalinga War was religious toleration and peaceful coexistence. His edicts emphasized respect for all sects and non-violence.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi) received the Bharat Ratna in 1987. He was a Pashtun leader from Pakistan who advocated for non-violence and Hindu-Muslim unity.

Din-e-Elahi (Divine Faith) was initiated by Emperor Akbar in 1582 as a syncretic religion blending elements of Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to promote religious tolerance.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad wrote 'India Wins Freedom' (published posthumously in 1959), an autobiographical account of India's independence movement.

International Women's Day is observed on March 8 globally, commemorating women's achievements and advocating for gender equality and women's rights.

Subhash Chandra Bose gave the famous slogan 'Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi dunga' (Give me blood, I will give you freedom) to inspire Indians to fight for independence.

Champaran (1917) was Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India, where he fought for indigo farmers' rights. Chauri-Chaura (1922) came later and led Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. Ahmedabad (1918) and Kheda (1918) were subsequent satyagrahas.

Maitree Express started in 2008 connecting Kolkata and Dhaka. Samjhouta Express runs between India and Pakistan (Lahore-Delhi). Thar Express connects Rajasthan with Sind province in Pakistan.