Threads of Discovery (eBook)

Unveiling the World's Curiosities

M.D. Sharma (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
150 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-080994-0 (ISBN)

Infos

This book offers a structured, thematic journey through history, science, culture, and political thought, using a unique format of questions and answers enriched with concise explanations. It bridges the gap between trivia and context by transforming each answer into a short essay, enabling deeper understanding. Readers explore topics ranging from Vedic migrations and ancient empires to astronomy, ecology, and modern governance, all tied into a broader narrative of human development. Designed for students, teachers, quiz enthusiasts, and lifelong learners, the book functions as a self-assessment tool, quick-reference guide, and inspiration for interdisciplinary exploration. The inclusion of riddles and lateral-thinking puzzles adds a refreshing, reflective element. Rather than offering isolated facts, the volume reveals how seemingly unrelated elements-like a drumbeat in Aryan warfare or the founding of the International Date Line-are threads in the fabric of global civilization. It encourages an integrated worldview, celebrating curiosity, achievement, and the never-ending journey of learning.

Textauszug

Chapter 1. Foundations of Citizenship, Science, and Heritage

Section 1. Citizenship and Governance

1. If one or both of our parents are Indian citizens, then our citizenship status is:

Answer: Citizen by birth

Explanation: Under Article 5 of the Indian Constitution (as amended), a person born in India one of whose parents is an Indian citizen is a citizen by birth.

2. In the event of war or external aggression, who has the authority to declare war on the aggressor?

Answer: The President of India

Explanation: Under Article 53 and Article 77 of the Constitution, the President—on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers—makes decisions regarding defense, including declarations of war.

3. Which is India’s highest military award for valor in the face of the enemy?

Answer: Param Vir Chakra

Explanation: Instituted on January 26, 1950, it is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.

4. What is “zero hour” in parliamentary terminology?

Answer: The period immediately following Question Hour for raising urgent matters

Explanation: Starting at noon, MPs can raise issues of public importance without prior notice.

5. Who appoints the Chief Minister of an Indian state?

Answer: The Governor of the state

Explanation: After elections, the Governor invites the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly to form the government.

6. Who can dissolve a state Legislative Assembly?

Answer: The Governor, on the advice of the Council of Ministers

Explanation: The Governor exercises this power under Article 174, typically on the Chief Minister’s recommendation.

7. Which constitutional head presides over the state government?

Answer: The Governor

Explanation: The Governor is the ceremonial head of a state, acting on the advice of the state’s Council of Ministers.

8. Under which Article of the Constitution can new states be formed?

Answer: Article 3

Explanation: Parliament may restructure state boundaries or create new states by law.

9. Who announces the President’s Rule in a state?

Answer: The President of India

Explanation: Under Article 356, if the Governor’s report or other material indicates failure of constitutional machinery, the President proclaims the President’s Rule.

10. What is the tenure of a state Governor?

Answer: Five years

Explanation: Under Article 156, a Governor holds office for five years from the date of assumption, unless removed earlier.

Section 2. Science and Invention

11. Who invented the mechanical calculator known as the Pascaline?

Answer: Blaise Pascal

Explanation: In 1642, Pascal developed this early adding machine to help his father with tax calculations.

12. Who discovered the planet Uranus?

Answer: Sir William Herschel

Explanation: On March 13, 1781, Herschel observed Uranus—initially mistaking it for a comet—and identified it as a new planet.

13. Who propounded the theory of continental drift?

Answer: Alfred Wegener

Explanation: In 1912, Wegener hypothesized that continents were once joined and have since drifted apart.

14. Who propounded the Yoga philosophy in the form of Yoga Sutras?

Answer: Patañjali

Explanation: Around the 2nd century BCE, Patañjali compiled sutras outlining the eight limbs of classical Yoga.

15. What is Yerba mate?

Answer: A tea-like infusion from Ilex paraguariensis

Explanation: Native to South America, its leaves are dried and steeped to make a caffeine-rich drink.

16. Which scientist discovered radioactivity?

Answer: Henri Becquerel

Explanation: In 1896, Becquerel noticed spontaneous emission from uranium salts; later, the Curies expanded on this work.

17. Who discovered the element radium?

Answer: Pierre and Marie Curie

Explanation: Through processing tons of pitchblende, they isolated radium in 1898, pioneering research on radioactivity.

18. Which scale measures earthquake intensity through observed effects?

Answer: Mercalli Intensity Scale

Explanation: Developed by Giuseppe Mercalli, it rates quakes from 1 (not felt) to 13 (destruction) based on human perception.

19. What is the maximum banknote denomination the Reserve Bank of India can issue?

Answer: ₹10,000

Explanation: Under Section 24 of the RBI Act, the central bank may issue notes up to ₹10,000; higher denominations require government approval.

Section 3. Indian Dynasties and Empires

20. Where was the capital of the Yadava emperors located?

Answer: Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad, Maharashtra)

Explanation: The Seuna (Yadava) dynasty ruled from Devagiri between the 12th and 14th centuries.

21. Who played a key role in the overthrow and death of Sultan Razia?

Answer: Malik Ikhtiyar-ud-Din Altunia

Explanation: Razia was defeated and captured by the governor Altunia in 1240; she was killed shortly thereafter amid palace intrigues.

22. To which misl (confederacy) did Maharaja Ranjit Singh belong?

Answer: Sukerchakia Misl

Explanation: Born into the Sukerchakia clan, Ranjit Singh united the Sikh misls and established the Sikh Empire.

23. After occupying which city did Ranjit Singh proclaim himself Maharaja?

Answer: Lahore

Explanation: He captured Lahore in 1799 and formally assumed the title “Maharaja” in 1801.

24. Which treaty formalized relations between Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire and the British East India Company?

Answer: Treaty of Amritsar (1809)

Explanation: It recognized the Sutlej River as the boundary, keeping Ranjit Singh’s domain north of it.

25. Who founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty in the Deccan region?

Answer: Dantidurga (also known as Dantivarman)

Explanation: In the mid-8th century CE, Dantidurga overthrew the Chalukyas and established Rashtrakuta rule.

26. Which ruler is credited with ending Rashtrakuta's power?

Answer: Tailapa 2 (of the Western Chalukyas)

Explanation: In 973 CE, Tailapa 2 defeated the last Rashtrakuta king and restored Chalukya's prominence.

Section 4. Geography and Environment

27. What is the Ranchi plateau more commonly known as?

Answer: The Chotanagpur Plateau

Explanation: A section of the larger Deccan Plateau spanning Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

28. With assistance from which country was the Rourkela Steel Plant constructed?

Answer: Germany

Explanation: Built in the 1950s with German collaboration, it was India’s first integrated steel plant under the Five-Year Plans.

29. By sending Rakesh Sharma into space in 1984, India became which numbered nation to sent a citizen into space.

Answer: The 14th nation

Explanation: Aboard Soyuz T-11, Sharma conducted experiments as the first Indian astronaut.

30. Why cannot it rain on two consecutive days at the same place?

Answer: Because night intervenes between two days.

Explanation: Meteorologically, one “day” ends at midnight—even if it rains past sunset, no single rainfall spans two calendar days without interruption.

31. Why do clouds fail to produce rain in deserts?

Answer: Due to low atmospheric humidity and lack of moisture-laden winds

Explanation: Deserts often have clouds but insufficient moisture to condense into precipitation.

Section 5. Literature, Philosophy, and Religion

32. Who authored the Rajatarangini, the historical chronicle of Kashmir?

Answer: Kalhaṇa

Explanation: A 12th-century Kashmiri poet-historian, Kalhaṇa composed this Sanskrit work detailing Kashmir’s rulers.

33. Who is considered the father of the history of Rajasthan?

Answer: James Tod (often colloquially “Colonel Tod”)

Explanation: His Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829–32) documented Rajput clans and traditions.

34. Which religion’s founder is credited with teaching universal brotherhood and the concept of one God?

Answer: Guru Ravidas (Raidas)

Explanation: A 15th-century Bhakti saint, Raidas preached equality, emphasizing one God and the unity of mankind.

35. Which sixteenth-century saint’s writings spurred the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra?

Answer: Jñānēśvara (Dnyaneshwar)

Explanation: His Jñānēśvarī vernacular commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā made spiritual teachings accessible.

36. Who composed the Sanskrit epic Rāmāyaṇa?

Answer: Vālmīki

Explanation: The legendary sage authored this foundational epic of ancient India.

37. Who wrote the Rāmcharitmānas in Awadhi?

Answer: Tulsīdās

Explanation: A 16th-century poet, his retelling of Rāmāyaṇa in the vernacular became immensely popular.

Section 6. Modern Institutions and Awards

39. Which Persian work did Raja Rammohun Roy publish in 1809 advocating monotheism?

Answer:...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 26.5.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Technik
• ISBN-10: 0-00-080994-2 / 0000809942
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-080994-0 / 9780000809940