BSSC CGL3 2011 — BSSC PYQ

South Sudan became the youngest country in the world when it gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011.

• The independence came after decades of civil war and conflict between the north and the south of Sudan, driven by ethnic, cultural, and religious differences.

• Immediately after independence, South Sudan was recognized by the United Nations and became its 193rd member state.

According to the 2011 Census of India, the overall literacy rate of the country was 74.04%, with Kerala at the top and Bihar at the bottom among all Indian states.

• Bihar recorded the lowest literacy rate of 61.8% in 2011, which was significantly below the national average.

• In Bihar, the male literacy rate was around 71.2%, while the female literacy rate was much lower at 51.5%, reflecting a large gender gap in education.

Ashoka the Great, one of India's most celebrated rulers, was a prominent emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, which reigned from 273-232 BCE.

• The Maurya Empire was originally founded by Chandragupta Maurya in present-day Bihar, after defeating the last Nanda ruler, Dhanananda.

• Ashoka is especially remembered for his 14 Major Rock Edicts, which are scattered across different parts of India.

• These edicts reflect Ashoka's policy of Dhamma, focusing on moral governance and the welfare of his people.

The first qualified graduate engineer to have ruled a State as Chief Minister twice is from Bihar.

• Nitish Kumar studied engineering before entering politics.

• He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna (formerly Bihar College of Engineering).

• Nitish Kumar first became the Chief Minister of Bihar in 2000, but resigned within a week. He returned in 2005, continued after the 2010 polls, and has marked a long political dominance in Bihar.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) currently has 10 member countries.

• The ten members are: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

• Bangladesh is geographically located in South Asia and is a member of organizations like SAARC, not ASEAN.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the first President of India, holding the office from January 26, 1950, until May 13, 1962.

• Born on December 3, 1884, in Ziradei, Bihar, Prasad was a key figure in the Indian freedom struggle and a stalwart of Indian politics.

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, was born on 22 December 1666 in Patna Sahib, located in present-day Bihar.

• His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur (the 9th Sikh Guru), was stationed in Patna at the time.

• Patna Sahib is one of the five Takhts (holy seats) of Sikhism.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad held the portfolio of Food and Agriculture in the Interim Government formed in 1946.

• Defence: This portfolio was held by Sardar Baldev Singh.

• External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations: This portfolio was held by Jawaharlal Nehru.

The first country in the world to propose a carbon tax for its people to address global warming is New Zealand.

• In 2003, New Zealand proposed a carbon tax to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

• The tax was levied on carbon emissions from fossil fuels, including petroleum, coal, and natural gas.

The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), located at Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), focused on fast breeder reactor (FBR) technology.

• In the year 2005, IGCAR achieved a significant milestone by successfully reprocessing the uranium-plutonium mixed carbide fuel used in the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR).

• Reprocessing spent fuel recovers valuable fissile material, reduces radioactive waste, and provides fuel for future breeder reactors.