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The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry is awarded for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry is awarded annually to an American author for a distinguished volume of original verse published during the preceding calendar year, recognizing excellence in poetic expression.
The Bharat Ratna medal weighs approximately _____ grams.
- 10
- 15
- 20
- 25
Answer: 15
The Bharat Ratna medal, shaped like a peepal leaf and made of toned bronze, weighs approximately 15 grams. It is 35 mm in length, 30 mm in width, and 3 mm in thickness, with a sunburst design on the obverse.
The Param Vir Chakra medal features the national emblem surrounded by four copies of _____, the thunderbolt of Indra.
- Trishul
- Vajra
- Chakra
- Gada
Answer: Vajra
The Param Vir Chakra medal features the national emblem of India in the center, surrounded by four replicas of the Vajra (Indra's thunderbolt), symbolizing irresistible force and spiritual power in Hindu mythology.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award ceremony is held annually in _____, Philippines.
- Quezon City
- Manila
- Cebu
- Davao
Answer: Manila
The Ramon Magsaysay Award ceremony is held annually in Manila, Philippines, typically on August 31, the birth anniversary of former President Ramon Magsaysay, after whom the award is named.
Which Indian-origin scientist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on ribosome structure?
- Har Gobind Khorana
- Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
- Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
- V. Raman
Answer: Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, an Indian-born British-American structural biologist, shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome, the cellular machine that translates genetic information into proteins.
Which Indian author won the International Booker Prize in 2022?
- Geetanjali Shree
- Anuradha Roy
- Jhumpa Lahiri
- Arundhati Roy
Answer: Geetanjali Shree
Geetanjali Shree won the International Booker Prize in 2022 for her novel 'Tomb of Sand' (originally 'Ret Samadhi' in Hindi), translated by Daisy Rockwell. She became the first Indian author to win this prize for a Hindi-language work.
Which of the following is a correct statement about the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
- It is awarded annually to scientists over 50 years
- It recognizes contributions made in India
- It is open to international scientists
- It includes a cash prize of ₹1 crore
Answer: It recognizes contributions made in India
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize recognizes outstanding research contributions made in India by scientists who are Indian citizens and working in India. It does not recognize work done abroad or by foreign nationals.
The Padma Vibhushan medal is made of _____ and features a lotus flower at its center.
- gold
- silver
- bronze
- standard metal
Answer: standard metal
The Padma Vibhushan medal is made of standard metal (a bronze alloy), with a centrally located lotus flower embossed on the obverse. The words 'Padma Vibhushan' are inscribed in Devanagari script above the lotus.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 was awarded for the development of _____, a method for genome editing.
- PCR
- CRISPR-Cas9
- RNA interference
- Gene therapy
Answer: CRISPR-Cas9
The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the development of CRISPR-Cas9, a groundbreaking method for precise genome editing with wide-ranging applications.
Which of the following institutions is NOT involved in selecting Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize winners?
- CSIR
- Indian National Science Academy
- Department of Science and Technology
- University Grants Commission
Answer: University Grants Commission
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize selection is managed by CSIR with input from scientific academies and expert committees. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is not directly involved in the selection process.
The Param Vir Chakra is awarded by the _____ of India on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence.
- Prime Minister
- President
- Chief of Defence Staff
- Defence Minister
Answer: President
The Param Vir Chakra is awarded by the President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Defence and the respective service headquarters.
The Bharat Ratna medal is suspended from a _____ ribbon for wearing around the neck.
- purple
- white
- orange
- no ribbon - it's a brooch
Answer: white
The Bharat Ratna medal is suspended from a white silk ribbon, allowing it to be worn around the neck. The design emphasizes simplicity and dignity, befitting India's highest civilian honor.
Which of the following is a unique feature of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
- It can be awarded posthumously
- It has an age limit of 45 years
- It is awarded only to government scientists
- It includes international researchers
Answer: It has an age limit of 45 years
A distinctive feature of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is its age criterion: recipients must be 45 years or below as of December 31 of the preceding year, encouraging early-career scientific excellence.
A.R. Rahman won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media for 'Jai Ho' from _____ in 2010.
- 127 Hours
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Couples Retreat
- The Hundred-Foot Journey
Answer: Slumdog Millionaire
A.R. Rahman won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2010 for 'Jai Ho' from the film 'Slumdog Millionaire', with lyrics by Gulzar and vocals by Sukhwinder Singh.
Which of the following Bharat Ratna recipients was awarded the honor for contributions to civil service?
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- R. Ambedkar
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1991, posthumous), B.R. Ambedkar (1990, posthumous), and Jawaharlal Nehru (1955, posthumous) were all awarded Bharat Ratna for their exceptional contributions to nation-building and civil service.
Which Indian film was the first to be submitted for Oscar consideration?
- Mother India
- Pather Panchali
- Do Bigha Zamin
- Madhumati
Answer: Mother India
Mother India (1957) was the first Indian film officially submitted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1958, though India's formal submission process began later. Correction: India's first official submission was 'Mother India' in 1957 for the 1958 ceremony.
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2014 was awarded for the invention of _____ LEDs, enabling bright and energy-saving white light.
- Red
- Green
- Blue
- Yellow
Answer: Blue
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura for inventing efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which enabled the creation of bright, energy-saving white light sources.
Which of the following scientists won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize before winning a Nobel Prize?
- V. Raman
- Har Gobind Khorana
- Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
- None of the above
Answer: None of the above
None of the Indian Nobel laureates won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize before their Nobel. C.V. Raman won the Nobel before the Bhatnagar Prize was instituted; Khorana and Ramakrishnan worked primarily abroad.
The Padma Awards can be revoked by the President of India in case of misconduct by the awardee.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The President of India has the authority to annul or revoke a Padma Award if the recipient is later found guilty of misconduct, bringing disrepute to the honor. This provision ensures the integrity of the awards.
The Param Vir Chakra was designed by _____, wife of Captain (later Major) Hira Lal Atal.
- Savitri Bai Khanolkar
- Eve Saville
- Uma Shankar Dixit
- Nandini Satpathy
Answer: Savitri Bai Khanolkar
Savitri Bai Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros), a Hungarian-born Indian, designed the Param Vir Chakra medal. She was married to Captain Hira Lal Atal of the Indian Army.