SSC GD Constable General Knowledge and General Awareness Syllabus

Name the four main classical dance forms of India along with their states of origin (any four).

Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (North India/UP), Kathakali (Kerala), Odissi (Odisha); others include Kuchipudi (Andhra), Manipuri (Manipur), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Sattriya (Assam).

What is the difference between Hindustani and Carnatic music?

Hindustani is the classical music of North India (influenced by Persian/Mughal traditions); Carnatic is the classical music of South India.

Which two classical dances and the festivals are linked: name the harvest festivals of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.

Punjab - Baisakhi (Lohri); Tamil Nadu - Pongal; Assam - Bihu.

Which UNESCO World Heritage caves in India are famous for Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut art?

Ajanta Caves (Buddhist paintings) and Ellora Caves (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain), both in Maharashtra.

What are the three major physical divisions of India from north to south?

The Himalayan Mountains (north), the Northern (Indo-Gangetic) Plains, and the Peninsular Plateau, plus Coastal Plains and Islands.

What are the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas from north to south?

The Himadri (Greater Himalayas), the Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and the Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas).

What is the highest peak in India, and where is it located?

Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), located in Sikkim, is the highest peak in India (and 3rd highest in the world).

Which plateau is the largest in India, and what are its two main divisions?

The Deccan Plateau is the largest; its main divisions are the Central Highlands and the Deccan proper, bordered by the Western and Eastern Ghats.

Name the longest river in India and the river known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'.

The Ganga is the longest river in India; the Kosi River is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar'.

Which line divides India roughly into two halves, and through how many Indian states does it pass?

The Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees N) passes through 8 Indian states, dividing the country into roughly two halves.

What type of climate does India broadly have, and what is the main reason for it?

India has a 'tropical monsoon' climate, largely controlled by the seasonal reversal of monsoon winds.

What are the two main branches of the southwest monsoon in India?

The Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon.

During which months does the southwest (summer) monsoon bring most of India's rainfall?

From June to September; it accounts for about 75 percent of India's annual rainfall.

Which place in India receives the highest rainfall, and what causes phenomenon of 'rain shadow'?

Mawsynram (Meghalaya) receives the highest rainfall. A rain shadow occurs on the leeward side of mountains where descending air gives little rainfall.

What is the 'October heat' and the role of the retreating monsoon?

During October-November the monsoon retreats; high temperature and humidity cause oppressive weather called 'October heat'. The retreating monsoon gives rainfall to the Coromandel (Tamil Nadu) coast.

What are the two broad categories of natural resources based on renewability?

Renewable resources (e.g., solar, wind, water, forests) and non-renewable resources (e.g., coal, petroleum, minerals).

Which is the most widely found and most fertile soil type in India?

Alluvial soil is the most widespread and fertile, found mainly in the Northern Plains; ideal for wheat, rice, and sugarcane.

Which soil is best for cotton cultivation, and what is it also called?

Black soil (Regur soil), found mainly in the Deccan Plateau, is best for cotton; it is also called 'black cotton soil'.

Which soil forms due to leaching in high-rainfall tropical regions and is reddish in colour?

Laterite soil forms by intense leaching in high-rainfall areas; it is used for bricks and growing tea, coffee, cashew.

Which Indian state is the largest producer of coal, and which is the largest producer of iron ore?

Jharkhand/Chhattisgarh region leads coal production; Odisha is the largest producer of iron ore in India.

What is the difference between Kharif and Rabi crops, with examples?

Kharif crops are sown in the monsoon (June-July) and harvested in autumn (e.g., rice, maize, cotton); Rabi crops are sown in winter (Oct-Dec) and harvested in spring (e.g., wheat, gram, mustard).

What is the 'Green Revolution' and who is called the Father of the Green Revolution in India?

The Green Revolution (1960s) greatly increased food grain (especially wheat) production using HYV seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation. M.S. Swaminathan is its father in India.

Which crop is called a 'tropical as well as subtropical' crop and is the main raw material for sugar?

Sugarcane; Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer in India.

India is the largest producer of which major spice and milk-related output?

India is the world's largest producer of milk (White Revolution) and a leading producer of spices, pulses, jute, and tea.

Which is the largest continent and the largest ocean in the world?

Asia is the largest continent; the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean.

What is the imaginary line at 0 degrees longitude and 0 degrees latitude called?

0 degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian (Greenwich); 0 degrees latitude is the Equator.

What is the longest river in the world and the tallest mountain peak in the world?

The Nile (or Amazon by volume) is the longest river; Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) is the tallest peak.

From which countries did India borrow key features of its Constitution: Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and Parliamentary system?

Fundamental Rights from the USA; Directive Principles from Ireland; Parliamentary system and rule of law from the UK.

What does the Preamble describe India as, and which words were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976)?

It declares India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic; the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' were added by the 42nd Amendment.

How many Fundamental Rights are currently in the Indian Constitution, and name them.

Six: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

Which Fundamental Right did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar call the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?

The Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32), which allows citizens to approach the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights.

How many Fundamental Duties are there, and by which amendment were they added?

There are 11 Fundamental Duties (Article 51A), added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) based on the Swaran Singh Committee; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment (2002).

What are the Directive Principles of State Policy, where are they listed, and are they enforceable in court?

DPSPs are guidelines for the State to establish social and economic justice (Part IV, Articles 36-51). They are non-justiciable (not enforceable by courts).