30. Who was the first Vice-President of India?
[SSC JE Mechanical (27 Sept 2019, Evening)]
A) Zakir Husain
B) Venkaiah Naidu
C) Vallabhbhai Patel
D) S. Radhakrishnan
Answer: D) S. 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. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
29. Who was the first President of India to die in office?
[West Bengal Police Warder (15 Sept 2019)]
A) V. V. Giri
B) Rajendra Prasad
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Zakir Husain
Answer: D) Zakir Husain
Explanation: Zakir Husain, India’s third President, died in office on 3 May 1969. He was the first Indian President to die while serving. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed also died in office, but later, in February 1977. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
28. Who was the first Indian to cross the English Channel?
[SSC CHSL (9 Jul 2019, Shift 2)]
A) Mihir Sen
B) Sachin Nag
C) Virdhawal Khade
D) Sufyun Shaikh
Answer: A) Mihir Sen
Explanation: Mihir Sen became the first Indian man to swim across the English Channel in 1958. He subsequently completed several historic long-distance swims in 1966. Arati Saha later became the first Asian woman to swim the Channel, in 1959. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
27. Who was the first Indian-origin Pulitzer Prize recipient?
[SSC CGL (10 Jun 2019, Shift 2)]
A) Geeta Anand
B) Siddhartha Mukherjee
C) Gobind Behari Lal
D) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: C) Gobind Behari Lal
Explanation: Gobind Behari Lal became the first Indian-born recipient of a Pulitzer Prize as part of a journalism team honoured in 1937. This predates the achievements of later Indian-origin Pulitzer winners in literature and other categories. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
26. Who replaced temporary Constituent Assembly chair Sachchidananda Sinha as presiding President?
[SSC GD (18 Feb 2019, Shift 3)]
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Rajendra Prasad
C) Vallabhbhai Patel
D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: B) 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 important distinction is the inaugural achievement, not later national fame or service in a related position.
25. Who was the first sportsperson to receive the Bharat Ratna?
[MP HSTET (7 Feb 2019, Shift 2)]
A) Sachin Tendulkar
B) Dhyan Chand
C) Milkha Singh
D) Kapil Dev
Answer: A) Sachin Tendulkar
Explanation: Sachin Tendulkar, one of international cricket’s leading batters, became the first sportsperson to receive India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2014. He was among the youngest recipients and remains associated with a record 100 international centuries.
24. Who was the first Defence Minister of independent India?
[UP Police Constable (28 Jan 2019, Shift 2)]
A) Kailash Nath Katju
B) V. K. Krishna Menon
C) Baldev Singh
D) Y. B. Chavan
Answer: C) Baldev Singh
Explanation: Baldev Singh served as independent India’s first Defence Minister after 15 August 1947. He was a prominent Sikh political leader during the transfer of power. Later defence ministers included V. K. Krishna Menon, Y. B. Chavan and Swaran Singh. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
23. Who was the first Muslim President of India?
[RPF Constable (19 Jan 2019, Shift 1)]
A) Muhammad Iqbal
B) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
C) Zakir Husain
D) Manmohan Singh
Answer: C) Zakir Husain
Explanation: Zakir Husain became India’s first Muslim President when he took office in 1967. Before that, he served as Vice-President and contributed to education, notably through Jamia Millia Islamia. He died in office in 1969.
22. Who was the first Sikh President of India?
[RPF Constable (18 Jan 2019, Shift 1)]
A) Dulbeer Singh
B) V. P. Singh
C) Manmohan Singh
D) Giani Zail Singh
Answer: D) Giani Zail Singh
Explanation: Giani Zail Singh became India’s first Sikh President in 1982 and served until 1987. Earlier he had been Chief Minister of Punjab and Union Home Minister. Manmohan Singh was India’s first Sikh Prime Minister, a different office.
21. Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress?
[WBCS Prelims 2019]
A) Surendranath Banerjee
B) W. C. Bonnerjee
C) Aurobindo Ghosh
D) Bipin Chandra Pal
Answer: B) 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. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
