BSSC Office Attendant key terms

The Government of India's central policy think tank, formed in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. It advises on development strategy and promotes cooperative federalism, publishing reports such as the SDG India Index.

A national economic development blueprint covering five years at a time, used in India from 1951 until the Twelfth Plan ended in 2017. Bihar's development goals were long framed through these plans.

Seventeen global targets adopted by the United Nations in 2015 for poverty, health, education, and environment, to be met by 2030. Indian states are ranked on them through the NITI Aayog SDG India Index.

The interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks. Raising it generally cools inflation; cutting it generally encourages borrowing and spending.

A sustained rise in the general price level of goods and services, which reduces the purchasing power of money. In India it is commonly tracked through the Consumer Price Index.

A statistical measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by households for a fixed basket of goods and services. It is the main gauge of retail inflation in India.

Actions taken by a central bank to manage money supply and interest rates in order to control inflation and support growth. In India it is set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the RBI.

Basic freedoms guaranteed to citizens by Part III of the Indian Constitution, including equality, speech, and life. They are enforceable in court through writ petitions.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Indian Constitution directing governments to promote welfare, reduce inequality, and secure livelihoods. They are not enforceable in courts but are fundamental to governance.

A formal application asking a High Court or the Supreme Court to issue a constitutional remedy such as habeas corpus or mandamus against unlawful action by an authority.

The process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and release oxygen. Chlorophyll in the chloroplasts absorbs the light energy that drives this reaction.

The green pigment found in plant chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. It reflects green wavelengths, which is why most leaves appear green.

The breakdown of glucose inside cells to release usable energy, usually consuming oxygen and producing carbon dioxide and water. It is essentially the reverse of photosynthesis.

A basic electrical relationship stating that current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it, provided temperature stays constant. It is written as V equals I times R.

The rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor, measured in amperes. It flows from higher to lower potential in a closed circuit.

A scale from 0 to 14 measuring how acidic or basic a solution is. Values below 7 are acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic.

Acids release hydrogen ions in solution and taste sour; bases release hydroxide ions and feel slippery. They neutralise each other to form salt and water.

A fraction expressed as a part per hundred, written with the percent sign. To find it, divide the part by the whole and multiply by one hundred.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind, while a proportion states that two ratios are equal. These concepts are used in sharing, mixture, and scale problems.

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. It gives a single figure representing the central tendency of the data.

Interest calculated only on the original principal for the whole period, using the formula principal times rate times time divided by one hundred.

Interest calculated on the principal plus previously accumulated interest, so the amount grows faster than under simple interest over the same period.

The joining of two adjacent sounds in Hindi where the ending of one word and the beginning of the next combine or change form, as in विद्या plus आलय becoming विद्यालय.

The reverse of sandhi: splitting a joined Hindi word back into its original component words. It is a common question type in Hindi grammar papers.

A compound Hindi word formed by combining two or more words, where the combined form expresses a single meaning. Examples include राजपुत्र and नीलकमल.

A prefix added before a Hindi root word that modifies or intensifies its meaning, such as प्र in प्रगति or अनु in अनुशासन. It does not stand alone as a word.

A suffix added after a Hindi root word to form a new word or change its grammatical function, such as इक in ऐतिहासिक or ता in मानवता.

A Hindi word meaning a synonym: a word that carries the same or nearly the same meaning as another, such as आँख and नेत्र. Synonym questions test vocabulary range.

A Hindi word meaning antonym: a word with the opposite meaning of another, such as दिन and रात. Antonym questions are standard in Hindi language sections.

A Hindi idiom whose figurative meaning differs from the literal meaning of its words, such as आँखों का तारा meaning a very dear person. Idioms are tested in objective papers.

A Hindi proverb or popular saying that carries traditional wisdom, such as नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा. Its meaning is tested through sentence-based questions.

The Hindi noun: a word that names a person, place, thing, or abstract idea, such as बिहार, नदी, or सुंदरता. Nouns are classified as proper, common, collective, material, and abstract.

The Hindi pronoun: a word used in place of a noun to avoid repetition, such as वह, मैं, or कोई. Pronouns are classified by person, number, and case.

A form of logical reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two or more premises assumed true, usually tested through statements about categories such as all, some, and none.

A diagram using overlapping circles to show relationships between sets. It is a quick way to check whether a syllogistic conclusion is valid.

A reasoning question type where letters or words are transformed by a fixed rule, and the candidate must apply that rule to decode or encode another word.

A reasoning item presenting a pair of related items and asking for a second pair with the same relationship, such as doctor to hospital as teacher to school.

A reasoning topic where family relationships are described in sentences and the candidate must determine how two people are related, often using a family tree diagram.

A reasoning topic involving movement in north, south, east, and west directions, requiring calculation of final position, distance, or facing direction.

Observed on 22 March, it marks the day in 1912 when Bihar was separated from Bengal as a separate province. It is celebrated with cultural programmes across the state.

The capital city of Bihar, situated on the southern bank of the Ganga. Historically known as Pataliputra, it was the capital of the Maurya and Gupta empires.

The major river flowing through Bihar from west to east, supporting agriculture and transport. Important tributaries in the state include the Gandak, Kosi, and Son rivers.

A tributary of the Ganga in north Bihar notorious for shifting its course and causing severe floods. It is often called the sorrow of Bihar.

A cultural region of north Bihar known for the Maithili language, Madhubani painting, and traditions linked to Sita and King Janaka. Darbhanga and Madhubani lie within it.

A traditional folk painting style from the Mithila region, done with natural colours on walls and paper, featuring mythological themes, fish, and geometric patterns. It has a Geographical Indication tag.

A major festival of Bihar and eastern India in which devotees worship the Sun god, offering arghya at rivers and ponds at sunrise and sunset. It is celebrated with strict fasting.

An ancient centre of learning in present-day Bihar that flourished from around the fifth century, attracting scholars from across Asia. Its ruins near Rajgir are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.