1. Which is the longest river bridge in India? a. Bandra-Worli Sea Link b. Vidyasagar Setu c. Dhola-Sadiya Bridge d. Durgam Cheruvu Bridge Answer: c. Dhola-Sadiya Bridge Explanation: The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, also known as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is a remarkable feat of engineering. It spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and connects the northeastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. At 9.15 kilometers in length, it held the title of the longest bridge in India over water until the construction of the Kacchi Dargah–Bidupur Bridge in Bihar, which is expected to be longer. The bridge is designed to handle the weight of 60-tonne tanks such as the Indian Army's Arjun and T-72 main battle tanks. This strategic capability makes it a significant asset in the region. The bridge was inaugurated on May 26, 2017, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. The completion of the bridge has greatly improved connectivity and reduced travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. 2. Which Indian city is known as the ‘Steel City of India’? a. Jamshedpur b. Bhilai c. Durgapur d. Rourkela Answer: a. Jamshedpur Explanation: The city known as the ‘Steel City of India’ is Jamshedpur, located in the state of Jharkhand. This title is attributed to Jamshedpur because it was here that the first steel plant by Tata was established. Jamshedpur holds the distinction of being the first industrial city in India, and almost the entire town works in the steel industry. The establishment of the steel plant in Jamshedpur was a significant milestone in India’s industrial development. The visionary industrialist Jamshetji Tata, also known as the ‘Father of Indian Industry’, transformed the Sakchi village of Jharkhand into an industrial sector in 1900. The first steel plant was built in Sakchi by an American geologist, Charles Perin, in 19071. Since then, Jamshedpur has continued to justify its title by manufacturing and exporting steel products in large quantities. 3. What is the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ in the context of Indian infrastructure? a. A network of highways connecting four major cities. b. A railway line connecting four major cities. c. A power grid connecting four major power plants. d. A waterway connecting four major ports. Answer: a. A network of highways connecting four major cities. Explanation: The 'Golden Quadrilateral' in the context of Indian infrastructure refers to a national highway network that connects several major industrial, agricultural, and cultural centers of India. It forms a quadrilateral linking India's four largest metropolises: Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west), and Chennai (south). The main objective of these superhighways is to reduce the travel time between the major cities of India, running roughly along the perimeter of the country. The Golden Quadrilateral project is managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways. Much of the system is not access controlled, although safety features such as guardrails, shoulders, and high-visibility signs are in use. The project was planned in 1999, launched in 2001, and was completed in 7 January 2012. 4. Which is the largest airport in India by area? a. Indira Gandhi International Airport b. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport c. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport d. Kempegowda International Airport Answer: a. Indira Gandhi International Airport Explanation: The largest airport in India by area is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, located in Hyderabad. This airport is situated in Shamshabad, a suburb of Hyderabad, in the southern state of Telangana. It was established as India’s first greenfield airport under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is not only the largest in India by area, but it also handles a significant volume of air traffic daily. The airport is equipped with world-class facilities and has been recognized for its commitment to providing a seamless travel experience. It plays a crucial role in connecting Hyderabad, a major IT hub and cultural center, with other parts of India and the world. 5. What is the ‘Smart Cities Mission’ in India? a. A mission to build 100 smart cities. b. A mission to provide free Wi-Fi in 100 cities. c. A mission to build 100 green buildings. d. A mission to install solar panels in 100 cities. Answer: a. A mission to build 100 smart cities. Explanation: The ‘Smart Cities Mission’ is an innovative initiative by the Government of India aimed at driving economic growth and improving the quality of life of people. The mission involves enabling local development and harnessing technology to create smart outcomes for citizens. The objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and offer a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment, and the application of ‘Smart’ solutions. The mission covers 100 cities and its duration was five years (FY2015-16 to FY2019-20). The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development, and the idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a light house to other aspiring cities. The Smart Cities Mission is meant to set examples that can be replicated both within and outside the Smart City, catalysing the creation of similar Smart Cities in various regions and parts of the country. 6. Which is the first planned city of Independent India? a. Gandhinagar b. Chandigarh c. Bhubaneswar d. Dispur Answer: b. Chandigarh Explanation: The first planned city of Independent India is Chandigarh. The city was conceptualized in 1948, and the foundation stone was laid in 1952. Chandigarh is located in the foothills of the Shivalik mountain range. The city was designed by the famous Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. Chandigarh is known for its well-planned design and architecture. The city was conceived as a ‘Garden City’ by its developers, where vertical and high-rise buildings were ruled out, keeping in view the living traditions of the people living nearby. 7. Which Indian city is known for its ‘Pink Buildings’? a. Jaipur b. Agra c. Lucknow d. Udaipur Answer: a. Jaipur Explanation: The Indian city known for its ‘Pink Buildings’ is Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. This distinctive pink color of the buildings in the old part of the city has earned Jaipur the nickname 'The Pink City’. The reason behind this unique color scheme dates back to 1876 when Queen Victoria’s son, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who would later become King Edward VII), visited India. At that time, pink was the symbolic color of hospitality. To welcome the royals and demonstrate their incredible hospitality, Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh I had the whole city painted pink. The name ‘Pink City’ stuck, and even today, almost all buildings in Jaipur, from bazaars to temples, maintain the same lovely shade of terracotta pink. 8. What is the ‘Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)’? a. A rating system for green buildings in India b. A government scheme for promoting renewable energy. c. A certification for environmentally friendly construction materials d. A fund for supporting sustainable infrastructure projects. Answer: a. A rating system for green buildings in India. Explanation: The ‘Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment’ (GRIHA) is a green building rating tool developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings. GRIHA is a Sanskrit word meaning – ‘Abode’. It assesses buildings based on 34 criteria, awarding points on a scale of 100, and promotes sustainable construction practices in India. GRIHA attempts to minimize a building’s resource consumption, waste generation, and overall ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits/benchmarks. It evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a ‘green building’. The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles, seeks to strike a balance between the established practices and emerging concepts, both national and international. 9. What is the ‘Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM)’? a. A mission to build smart cities. b. A mission to provide affordable housing. c. A mission to renew and upgrade the infrastructure in cities. d. A mission to promote digital literacy in urban areas. Answer: c. A mission to renew and upgrade the infrastructure in cities Explanation: The ‘Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission’ (JnNURM) was a city-modernization scheme launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Urban Development. It was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 3 December 2005. The mission aimed to encourage reforms and fast track planned development of identified cities. The focus was on efficiency in urban infrastructure and service delivery mechanisms, community participation, and accountability of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or Parastatal agencies towards citizens. The mission was launched in 2005 for a seven-year period (up to March 2011) to encourage cities to initiate steps for bringing phased improvements in their civic service levels. 10. Which Indian city is known for its ‘Salt Bridge’? a. Phalodi b. Chennai c. Mumbai d. Hyderabad Answer: a. Phalodi Explanation: The city known as the ‘Salt City’ in India is Phalodi. It is located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. This nickname is due to its significant salt industry. The salt business in Phalodi began in 1960. Most of the salt manufactured here is transported to Haryana and Punjab. The city is in the buffer zone of the Thar Desert and is often subject to extreme temperature conditions due to its arid climate. One of the prominent salt companies in Phalodi is the Bharat Salt Company, which was established in 1968. It is involved in manufacturing and supplying edible and industrial-grade salt. The company has a salt production area of 90 hectares in Nawa and Phalodi.
