50. Who gave the presidential address at the first Congress session calling for interregional friendship and the removal of prejudice?
[Odisha Police SI (7 Jul 2022, Paper II)]
A) C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
B) Raja Rammohun Roy
C) W. C. Bonnerjee
D) K. Kamaraj
Answer: C) W. C. Bonnerjee
Explanation: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, commonly written W. C. Bonnerjee, was the first President of the Indian National Congress at its Bombay session in December 1885. The first gathering had 72 delegates and marked a new phase of organised political discussion.
49. Who was the first Indian musician to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score?
[SSC CHSL (24 May 2022, Shift 2)]
A) Bhanu Athaiya
B) Resul Pookutty
C) Mehboob Khan
D) A. R. Rahman
Answer: D) A. R. Rahman
Explanation: Composer A. R. Rahman won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire at the 2009 Oscars. He also won Best Original Song with Gulzar. His achievement is separate from Bhanu Athaiya’s earlier Oscar for costume design.
48. Which cricketer was the first to be given out by the third umpire?
[AFCAT (12 Feb 2022, Shift 1, memory-based)]
A) Ricky Ponting
B) Sachin Tendulkar
C) M. S. Dhoni
D) Rahul Dravid
Answer: B) Sachin Tendulkar
Explanation: Sachin Tendulkar was the first international cricketer given out following a decision referred to the television or third umpire, during India’s 1992 tour of South Africa. The referral was for a run-out, making it a notable moment in officiating technology.
47. Viswanathan Anand was the first recipient of which award in 1991–92?
[SSC GD (9 Dec 2021, Shift 1)]
A) Arjuna Award
B) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
C) Ekalavya Award
D) Dronacharya Award
Answer: B) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Explanation: Viswanathan Anand was the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, awarded for 1991–92. A trailblazer in Indian chess, he had already become the country’s first Grandmaster in 1988. The award is now named the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
46. Who was appointed temporary Chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
[SSC Stenographer (15 Nov 2021, Shift 1)]
A) Sarat Chandra Bose
B) J. B. Kripalani
C) Sachchidananda Sinha
D) C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: C) Sachchidananda Sinha
Explanation: Sachchidananda Sinha presided over the Constituent Assembly’s first meeting on 9 December 1946 as its temporary Chairman. Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent President soon afterward. These two roles should not be confused in constitutional-history questions.
45. Who was the first Indian to win a seat in the British House of Commons?
[SSC CGL Tier I (20 Aug 2021, Shift 2)]
A) M. N. Roy
B) Dadabhai Naoroji
C) W. C. Bonnerjee
D) Hasrat Mohani
Answer: B) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji became the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons in 1892 as a Liberal Party member for Finsbury Central. He used his position to draw attention to Indian political and economic grievances under colonial administration.
44. Who among the following was the first Vice-President of India?
[SSC CGL Tier I (16 Aug 2021, Shift 2)]
A) Zakir Husain
B) Gopal Swarup Pathak
C) V. V. Giri
D) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Answer: D) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Explanation: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962. He later became the country’s second President. As Vice-President he was ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha under the Constitution.
43. Who among the following became the first Lokpal of India?
[SSC CHSL (4 Aug 2021, Shift 1)]
A) Dilip B. Bhosale
B) Pradip Kumar Mohanty
C) Pinaki Chandra Ghose
D) Ajay Kumar Tripathi
Answer: C) Pinaki Chandra Ghose
Explanation: Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was appointed India’s first Lokpal chairperson in March 2019. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013 established the institutional framework for investigating specified allegations of corruption against public functionaries. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
42. Who was the first permanent President of the Constituent Assembly of independent India?
[RRB NTPC (4 Mar 2021, Shift 1)]
A) B. R. Ambedkar
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) Sachchidananda Sinha
Answer: C) Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: Dr Rajendra Prasad became the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly in December 1946. Sachchidananda Sinha had chaired its opening meeting temporarily. The Assembly framed the Constitution and later functioned as the provisional Parliament. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
41. Who was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff?
[CG Vyapam Mandi Inspector (2021)]
A) Bikram Singh
B) Bipin Rawat
C) Manoj Mukund Naravane
D) V. K. Singh
Answer: B) Bipin Rawat
Explanation: General Bipin Rawat took office as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on 1 January 2020. The position was established to improve coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force and to advise on joint military matters. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
