90. Who became the first Indian recipient of the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award in April 2025?
[RRB Group D (10 Dec 2025, Shift 2)]
A) Raghunath Mohapatra
B) Subodh Gupta
C) Sudarsan Pattnaik
D) M. F. Husain
Answer: C) Sudarsan Pattnaik
Explanation: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik became the first Indian recipient of the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award in 2025. Recognised internationally for elaborate sand sculptures, he is associated with Puri, Odisha, and often uses public art for social messages.
89. In which year did Viswanathan Anand become India’s first chess Grandmaster?
[SSC JE Civil (6 Dec 2025, Shift 1)]
A) 1988
B) 1987
C) 1991
D) 1993
Answer: A) 1988
Explanation: Viswanathan Anand became India’s first chess Grandmaster in 1988. He later won multiple world chess championships and helped popularise competitive chess in India. Grandmaster is a title awarded by FIDE, and it is separate from national sporting awards.
88. Which statement correctly describes C. Rajagopalachari, a Constituent Assembly member?
[IB ACIO Grade II (16 Sept 2025, Shift 2)]
A) He was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha
B) He was the first and last Indian Governor-General
C) He was Governor of Tamil Nadu
D) He chaired the Constitution Drafting Committee
Answer: B) He was the first and last Indian Governor-General
Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten as Governor-General in June 1948 and was the first and only Indian to hold that post. The office ended when India became a republic on 26 January 1950, with Rajendra Prasad as President. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
87. Which statements are correct?
1. C. Rajagopalachari was among the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna.
2. Deendayal Upadhyaya put forward Integral Humanism.
[CDS II (General Knowledge, 14 Sept 2025)]
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: The Bharat Ratna was instituted in 1954. C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C. V. Raman were its inaugural recipients, so Rajagopalachari was among the first, not the sole first awardee. Integral Humanism is associated with Deendayal Upadhyaya.
86. Who was called the Grand Old Man of India and the first Indian to demand Swaraj?
[RRB NTPC UG (12 Aug 2025, Shift 2)]
A) Surendranath Banerjee
B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the Grand Old Man of India, used the 1906 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress to articulate the goal of self-government or Swaraj. He also pioneered the economic critique of British rule through drain theory.
85. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?
[RRB NTPC UG (7 Aug 2025, Shift 2)]
A) Sukumar Sen
B) V. Narahari Rao
C) H. K. Kripalani
D) M. C. Setalvad
Answer: A) Sukumar Sen
Explanation: Sukumar Sen became independent India’s first Chief Election Commissioner in 1950. He oversaw the first two general elections, held in 1951–52 and 1957. The Election Commission’s constitutional foundation is Article 324, not the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
84. Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
[UGC NET Political Science (26 Jun 2025, Shift 2)]
A) K. S. Hegde
B) G. V. Mavalankar
C) M. A. Ayyangar
D) G. S. Dhillon
Answer: B) G. V. Mavalankar
Explanation: Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar became the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha when the first House was constituted in 1952. He had earlier presided over the Constituent Assembly acting as the provisional Parliament. M. A. Ayyangar succeeded him.
83. Indian Army Day in January 2025 commemorated which historical first?
[RRB NTPC Graduate (17 Jun 2025, Shift 1)]
A) Launch of Operation Vijay
B) First Republic Day Parade
C) First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army
D) Establishment of Army Headquarters
Answer: C) First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army
Explanation: K. M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on 15 January 1949. India marks Army Day on that date. Sam Manekshaw later became the first Indian Army officer elevated to Field Marshal.
82. Who was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India?
[CGPSC Preliminary Exam (9 Feb 2025)]
A) Morarji Desai
B) Jagjivan Ram
C) Chaudhary Charan Singh
D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Explanation: Vallabhbhai Patel became India’s first Deputy Prime Minister on 15 August 1947 and also served as its first Home Minister. His work integrating princely states earned him the reputation of the Iron Man of India. Morarji Desai held the deputy post later.
81. Who was the first President of India?
[PSPCL JE (3 Feb 2025)]
A) S. Radhakrishnan
B) Shankar Dayal Sharma
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) Zakir Husain
Answer: C) Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: Dr Rajendra Prasad assumed office on 26 January 1950 as India’s first President. He served two terms and remains the country’s longest-serving President. He had previously chaired the Constituent Assembly that adopted the Constitution.
