SSC CGL General Awareness Syllabus

Which gas is primarily responsible for depletion of the ozone layer?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) release chlorine, which destroys ozone.

How many Articles, Parts, and Schedules did the original Indian Constitution contain when adopted?

395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 8 Schedules (originally).

On what date was the Indian Constitution adopted and on what date did it come into force?

Adopted on 26 November 1949; came into force on 26 January 1950.

From which country's constitution did India borrow the Directive Principles of State Policy?

Ireland (the Irish Constitution).

Which Fundamental Right is described by Dr. Ambedkar as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?

The Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32).

How many Fundamental Duties are listed in the Indian Constitution, and which amendment added them?

11 Fundamental Duties (Article 51A); the original 10 were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976), and the 11th by the 86th Amendment (2002).

Who is the constitutional head of the Indian Union, and who exercises real executive power?

The President is the constitutional (nominal) head; real executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.

What is the constitutional head of a State, and how is the office filled?

The Governor is the constitutional head of a State, appointed by the President of India.

What are the two houses of the Indian Parliament called?

The Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).

What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha as provided in the Constitution?

552 members (530 from states, 20 from UTs; the earlier 2 nominated Anglo-Indian seats were discontinued by the 104th Amendment).

Who is the guardian and final interpreter of the Indian Constitution?

The Supreme Court of India.

What is 'judicial review' in the Indian context?

The power of the judiciary to examine the constitutional validity of laws and executive actions and strike down those that violate the Constitution.

What is the 'basic structure doctrine' and in which case was it established?

It holds that Parliament cannot amend the basic features of the Constitution; established in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).

Which constitutional body conducts elections in India and is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner?

The Election Commission of India (Article 324).

Which authority audits the accounts of the Union and State governments?

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), under Article 148.

Which amendment gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions, and in which year?

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.

What are the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system in India?

Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (block/intermediate level), and Zila Parishad (district level).

What is the difference between GDP and GNP?

GDP measures the value of goods and services produced within a country's borders; GNP adds net income earned by residents from abroad (GNP = GDP + net factor income from abroad).

What is inflation, and which index is commonly used to measure retail inflation in India?

Inflation is a sustained rise in the general price level of goods and services; retail inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Which is the central bank of India and what is its primary monetary policy tool to control inflation?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI); the repo rate is its key tool (raising it curbs inflation).

What is a fiscal deficit?

The excess of the government's total expenditure over its total revenue (excluding borrowings); it indicates total borrowing needs.

In which year was the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemented in India?

1 July 2017.

What are the components of GST levied on an intra-state sale?

CGST (Central GST) and SGST (State GST); for inter-state sales, IGST (Integrated GST) is levied.

What replaced the Planning Commission in India and in which year?

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.

Which international organisation has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and provides short-term loans to manage balance-of-payments problems?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF).

What is Newton's First Law of Motion?

An object remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force (the law of inertia).

What is the chemical formula of common table salt, and what are its constituent ions?

Sodium chloride (NaCl); composed of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions.

What is photosynthesis, and what is its overall equation?

The process by which green plants make food using sunlight: 6CO2 + 6H2O --(light/chlorophyll)--> C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Which Indian organisation is responsible for the country's space programme and is headquartered in Bengaluru?

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).

Which committee's recommendations form the basis of awarding the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, and which field does the Param Vir Chakra recognise?

The Bharat Ratna is conferred on the recommendation of the Prime Minister to the President for exceptional service; the Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime military gallantry award.