GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Dr. V. Neelamegam Professor, FS&H, SRM University, Tamil Nadu. ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED © AUTHOR No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author and the publisher. First Edition : 2012 Second Revised Edition : 2019 Published by : Mrs. Meena Pandey for Himalaya Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., Ramdoot, Dr. Bhalerao Marg, Girgaon, Mumbai - 400 004 Phone: 022-23860170/23863863; Fax: 022-23877178 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.himpub.com Branch Offices : New Delhi : Pooja Apartments, 4-B, Murari Lal Street, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi - 110 002. Phone: 011-23270392, 23278631; Fax: 011-23256286 Nagpur : Kundanlal Chandak Industrial Estate, Ghat Road, Nagpur - 440 018. Phone: 0712-2738731, 3296733; Telefax: 0712-2721216 Bengaluru : Plot No. 91-33, 2nd Main Road, Seshadripuram, Behind Nataraja Theatre, Bengaluru - 560 020. Phone: 080-41138821; Mobile: 09379847017, 09379847005 Hyderabad : No. 3-4-184, Lingampally, Besides Raghavendra Swamy Matham, Kachiguda, Hyderabad - 500 027. Phone: 040-27560041, 27550139 Chennai : New No. 48/2, Old No. 28/2, Ground Floor, Sarangapani Street, T. Nagar, Chennai-600 012. Mobile: 09380460419 Pune : First Floor, Laksha Apartment, No. 527, Mehunpura, Shaniwarpeth (Near Prabhat Theatre), Pune - 411 030. Phone: 020-24496323, 24496333; Mobile: 09370579333 Lucknow : House No. 731, Shekhupura Colony, Near B.D. Convent School, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226 022. Phone: 0522-4012353; Mobile: 09307501549 Ahmedabad : 114, SHAIL, 1st Floor, Opp. Madhu Sudan House, C.G. Road, Navrang Pura, Ahmedabad - 380 009. Phone: 079-26560126; Mobile: 09377088847 Ernakulam : 39/176 (New No. 60/251), 1st Floor, Karikkamuri Road, Ernakulam, Kochi - 682011. Phone: 0484-2378012, 2378016; Mobile: 09387122121 Bhubaneswar : Plot No. 214/1342, Budheswari Colony, Behind Durga Mandap, Bhubaneswar - 751 006. Phone: 0674-2575129; Mobile: 09338746007 Kolkata : 108/4, Beliaghata Main Road, Near ID Hospital, Opp. SBI Bank, Kolkata - 700 010, Phone: 033-32449649; Mobile: 07439040301 DTP by : Krunali/Rakhi Printed at : M/s. Aditya Offset Process (I) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad. On behalf of HPH. Dedicated to My Father, Friends and Well-wishers Preface to the Second Edition This book provides a comprehensive study of all the sections that are covered under the subject of General Knowledge. It is thoroughly revised and updated, keeping in mind the specific requirements of the students and various examinations. Every topic is fully explained and to the point. Facts are made point-wise in a simple language. The book has been divided into 9 sections such as The History of India, Geography, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, General Science, Facts about India, Sports, Facts about the World, General Knowledge Concise each containing theoretical content. Figures and tables have been given along with the theory wherever required. I am grateful to all my friends and well-wishers who have assisted me directly and indirectly to publish this book. I am thankful to Himalaya Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., for taking effort to publish this book. I desire the pleasure of readers to make suggestions for the improvement of the book, which shall be most welcome and these will be incorporated in the next editions of this book. DR. V. NEELAMEGAM Preface to the First Edition This book "General Knowledge for Competitive Exams" is mainly prepared to quench the thirst of the students appearing for the competitive exams. Maximum efforts are made to satisfy the long- felt wants in various areas such as History of India, Geography, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, General Science, Sports and General Studies. My teaching experiences in university and other institutions as well as my personal preparation for the competitive exams have been a great source of inspiration and have helped me immensely in writing this book. The book incorporates various aspects of general knowledge with suitable diagrams. Every probable effort has been made to explain the topic in an easy, simple and understandable language. In the compilation of this book, all possible precautions have been taken to ensure that the information provided is correct and meticulous effort is made to update this book. The readers are also advised to keep themselves updated with newspapers to obtain the latest details in current affairs. One of the most pleasant aspects of writing a book is the opportunity to thank those who have contributed to it. I am grateful to all my friends and well-wishers who have assisted me directly and indirectly to publish this book. In bringing out this text into a book form, I am grateful to Himalaya Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. for undertaking the venture of publishing this book. I desire the pleasure of readers to make suggestions for the improvement of the book (including printing errors, omissions, etc., if any) which shall be most welcome and these will be incorporated in the subsequent editions of this book. DR. V. NEELAMEGAM Contents Sr. No. Chapter Name Page No. 1. The History of India 1 - 101 2. Geography 102 - 146 3. Indian Polity 147 - 240 4. Indian Economy 241 - 305 5. General Science 306 - 377 6. Facts about India 378 - 403 7. Sports 404 - 427 8. Facts about the World 428 - 448 9. General Knowledge Concise 449 - 538 Detailed Contents Sr. No. Chapter Name Page No. 1. The History of India 1 - 101 Ancient History of North India — Ancient History of South India — Medieval History of North India — Medieval History of South India — History of India: Coming of the Europeans — History of India: The Colonial Period —Governor Generals and Viceroys in India from 1772 -1950 — Governor Generals of British India — British Viceroys of India — History of Modern India — Gandhian Era — Important Newspapers and Journals Involved in Freedom Struggle of India — Important and Famous Books Written by Indian Authors — Presidents of Indian National Congress — National Revolutionary Movement — Nationalist Organisations/Unions — Historical Events 2. Geography 102 - 146 Universe and Solar System — Solar System — Satellites — The Earth — Eclipses — Atmosphere — Space: Some Interesting Facts — The Earth's Crust — Classification of Rocks — Latitude, Longitude and Time — Indian Geography — Climate Regions — The Peninsular Plateau — Soils — Winds — Indian Rivers — Multipurpose River Valley Projects in India — Mineral Resources — Chief Crops and Producing States in India — Indian Flora and Fauna — National Parks in India — Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries — Geographical Sobriquets — Geographical Terms 3. Indian Polity 147 - 240 Constitution of India — History of Constitutional Development in India — System of Government — Preamble to the Constitution of India — Features Borrowed from the Foreign Constitutions — Nature of Constitution — Amending Powers of the Indian Parliament — Indian Citizenship — Fundamental Rights in India — Directive Principles in India — Fundamental Duties in India — Union Government — Vice- President — Prime Minister of India — State Government — Chief Minister — Parliament of India — Lok Sabha — Speaker of Lok Sabha — Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha — Rajya Sabha — Constitutional Bodies — Writs and its Types — Cut Motion — Government Accounts — Supreme Court of India — High Courts of India — Union Public Service Commission — Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) — Attorney General of India — Elections in India — Election Commission in India — Planning Commission — Finance Commission of India — List of Amendments of the Constitution of India — List of Indian States and Union Territories — Indian Union Terrirories — History of Indian Tricolor — Articles of the Constitution (In Detail) — Political and Social Terms 4. Indian Economy 241 - 305 Planning in India — Population of India (Census 2011) — Indian States Population — Major Cities Population — Agriculture — Green Revolution in India — Industries — Major Industries in India — Major Export Industries of India — Unemployment of India — Poverty of India — Rural and Urban Poverty — National Income of India — History of the Rupee — The New Rupee Symbol — Banking System of India — Stock Exchanges of India — Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) — Nationalization of Banks in India — Regional Rural Banks in India (RRB) — Insurance of India — Twelfth Finance Commission (2005-10) — Tax Structure in India — Life Expectancy — List of Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna CPSEs — Business Terminology — Economic, Commercial and Trade Terms 5. General Science 306 - 377 Physics Facts — Chemistry — Chemical Names of Common Substances — Interesting Facts about the Human Body — Interesting Facts about the Heart — Interesting Facts about the Brain — Interesting Facts about the Bones — Interesting Facts about the Eyes — Interesting Facts about the Mouth — Interesting Facts about the Tongue — Interesting Facts about the Hair — Interesting Facts about the Diseases — Interesting Facts about the Pregnancy — Other Human Body Facts — Lung Facts Skin Facts — Human Ear Facts — Facts about the Digestive System — Facts about Human Teeth — Facts about Blood — Endocrine System — Structural Organisation of the Cell — Cell Organelles — Bacteria Cell Structure — DNA and RNA — Vitamins — S.I. Units of Physical Quantity — Scientific Laws — Diseases Caused by Bacteria to Human — Diseases Caused by Virus to Human — Diseases Caused by Fungi to Human — Diseases