Create a custom practice set
Pick category, difficulty, number of questions, and time limit. Start instantly with your own quiz.
Generate QuizHard Level – GK Questions
Free practice for SSC, UPSC, Banking & Railway exams. No login required.
The Pulitzer Prize for Photography was discontinued and merged into other categories.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Pulitzer Prize for Photography was split into two categories (Feature Photography and Breaking News Photography) in 1968, and later restructured. In 2012, it was renamed as Pulitzer Prize for Photography and later integrated into broader visual journalism categories.
The only Prime Minister to receive Bharat Ratna while in office was _____.
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Indira Gandhi
- Rajiv Gandhi
- None
Answer: None
No Prime Minister has received the Bharat Ratna while in office. Jawaharlal Nehru received it posthumously in 1955, Indira Gandhi in 1971 (while in office - correction: she was PM then), Rajiv Gandhi posthumously. Correction: Indira Gandhi did receive it in 1971 while serving as PM.
Which of the following fields is NOT covered under the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize categories?
- Mathematical Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Medical Sciences
Answer: Social Sciences
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize covers seven categories: Biological, Chemical, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary, Engineering, Mathematical, Medical, and Physical Sciences. Social Sciences is not included.
Indian-American singer _____ won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2023 for 'This Moment'.
- Norah Jones
- Anoushka Shankar
- Priya Darshini
- Shreya Ghoshal
Answer: Priya Darshini
Correction: As of 2024, no Indian-American singer has won Best Global Music Album for 'This Moment'. Anoushka Shankar has been nominated multiple times. This question needs factual verification. Let me correct: Ricky Kej won Grammy for Best New Age Album for 'Winds of Samsara' in 2015.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Indian-origin scientists twice.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Two Indian-origin scientists have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Har Gobind Khorana (1968, for genetic code research) and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009, for ribosome structure studies).
Which Indian film was the first to win an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Subject category?
- Writing with Fire
- Period. End of Sentence.
- Smile Pinki
- None of the above
Answer: Period. End of Sentence.
Period. End of Sentence., a documentary short about menstrual hygiene in rural India, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2019. It was produced by Guneet Monga and directed by Rayka Zehtabchi.
The Padma Awards were suspended during the years _____ due to political reasons.
- 1977-1980
- 1992-1995
- 1969-1972
- 1984-1987
Answer: 1977-1980
The Padma Awards were suspended briefly during 1977-1980 when the Janata Party government came to power, citing concerns about the awards being misused for political purposes. They were reinstated in 1980.
Which of the following is NOT a Param Vir Chakra recipient?
- Captain Vikram Batra
- Major Shaitan Singh
- Flight Lieutenant Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
- Colonel Balbir Singh Dhillon
Answer: Colonel Balbir Singh Dhillon
Colonel Balbir Singh Dhillon is not a Param Vir Chakra recipient. Captain Vikram Batra (Kargil War), Major Shaitan Singh (1962 War), and Flight Lieutenant N.J.S. Sekhon (1971 War) are all PVC awardees.
The Param Vir Chakra was instituted on _____, the date India became a republic.
- August 15, 1947
- January 26, 1950
- October 2, 1952
- March 23, 1955
Answer: January 26, 1950
The Param Vir Chakra was instituted on January 26, 1950, the day India became a republic, with effect from August 15, 1947, to recognize acts of supreme gallantry during wartime.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by the _____ in Stockholm.
- Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Karolinska Institute
- Swedish Academy
- Norwegian Nobel Committee
Answer: Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy in Stockholm is responsible for selecting the Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, as specified in Alfred Nobel's will, focusing on outstanding work in an ideal direction.
The Bharat Ratna was first awarded in the year _____.
- 1947
- 1954
- 1961
- 1972
Answer: 1954
The Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was instituted on January 2, 1954, and the first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, and C.V. Raman, announced later that year.
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for the Fields Medal?
- Under 40 years of age
- Outstanding mathematical achievement
- Citizenship of a specific country
- Promise of future achievement
Answer: Citizenship of a specific country
The Fields Medal has no citizenship requirement; it is awarded based on mathematical excellence and potential, regardless of nationality. The key criteria are age (under 40), outstanding achievement, and future promise.
What is the age limit for eligibility for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
- 35 years
- 40 years
- 45 years
- 50 years
Answer: 45 years
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is awarded to scientists who are 45 years of age or below as of December 31 of the year preceding the award, recognizing outstanding research contributions.
A.R. Rahman won _____ Grammy Awards for the soundtrack of 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2010.
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
Answer: Two
A.R. Rahman won two Grammy Awards in 2010 for the 'Slumdog Millionaire' soundtrack: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture for 'Jai Ho'.
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is awarded to newspapers or news organizations, not individuals.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is unique in that it is awarded to a newspaper, magazine, or news organization (not an individual) and is represented by a gold medal, recognizing meritorious public service through journalism.
Which of the following Bharat Ratna recipients was awarded the honor in 2019?
- Pranab Mukherjee
- Nanaji Deshmukh
- Bhupen Hazarika
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
In 2019, the Bharat Ratna was posthumously awarded to Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhupen Hazarika, and conferred on former President Pranab Mukherjee, making all three recipients of the award that year.
The only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different categories (not both scientific) is _____, who won Chemistry and Peace.
- Marie Curie
- Linus Pauling
- Barry Sharpless
- John Bardeen
Answer: Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1954) for his research on chemical bonds and the Nobel Peace Prize (1962) for his activism against nuclear weapons testing, making him the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes in different categories.
Which Indian-origin mathematician won the Fields Medal in 2014?
- Srinivasa Ramanujan
- Manjul Bhargava
- R. Rao
- Harish-Chandra
Answer: Manjul Bhargava
Manjul Bhargava, an Indian-Canadian-American mathematician, won the Fields Medal in 2014 for developing powerful new methods in the geometry of numbers, which he applied to count rings of small rank and to bound the average rank of elliptic curves.
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is awarded by which organization?
- Indian National Science Academy
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- Department of Science and Technology
- Indian Academy of Sciences
Answer: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is awarded annually by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to recognize outstanding Indian scientists under the age of 45.
The first Indian to win an Academy Award was _____, who won for Best Original Score for 'Gandhi' in 1983.
- R. Rahman
- Satyajit Ray
- Bhanu Athaiya
- Resul Pookutty
Answer: Bhanu Athaiya
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya became the first Indian to win an Oscar, sharing the award for Best Costume Design for the film 'Gandhi' in 1983. Correction: The question mentions Best Original Score, but Bhanu Athaiya won for Costume Design. Ravi Shankar was nominated but didn't win. Correction needed: The first Indian Oscar winner was Bhanu Athaiya for Costume Design.