SSC GD 2026 5 May 2026 Shift 3 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: Antarctica — Option (b)
The ozone hole was first discovered over Antarctica in 1985 by British scientists Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin of the British Antarctic Survey. They observed a dramatic seasonal thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer over the South Pole each spring (September–November). The discovery shocked the scientific community and led to the Montreal Protocol (1987), the international treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances like CFCs.
Option (a) Arctic — Incorrect: While ozone depletion also occurs over the Arctic, the ozone hole was first discovered over Antarctica, not the Arctic.
Option (c) Indian Ocean — Incorrect: The ozone hole phenomenon is specifically associated with the polar regions (Antarctica), not the Indian Ocean.
Option (d) Pacific Ocean — Incorrect: The Pacific Ocean is not associated with ozone hole discovery; the ozone hole is a polar phenomenon first found over Antarctica.

Correct Answer: Because it does not react easily — Option (b)
Nitrogen (N₂) is chemically inert under normal atmospheric conditions primarily because of the extremely strong triple bond (N≡N) between its two atoms. The bond dissociation energy of N₂ is very high (~945 kJ/mol), making it one of the strongest diatomic bonds. This means nitrogen requires enormous energy to break apart and react with other elements. As a result, N₂ is highly stable and does not readily participate in chemical reactions at room temperature and pressure.
Option (a) Because it absorbs ultraviolet rays — Incorrect: Ozone (O₃) absorbs UV rays, not nitrogen. Nitrogen's inertness is due to its strong triple bond, not UV absorption.
Option (c) Because it is rare — Incorrect: Nitrogen is NOT rare — it makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere. Its inertness is due to its strong triple bond, not rarity.
Option (d) Because it forms ozone — Incorrect: Ozone is formed from oxygen (O₃), not nitrogen. Nitrogen does not form ozone.

Correct Answer: Punjab — Option (b)
Giddha is a traditional folk dance of Punjab, performed exclusively by women. It is often considered the female counterpart of the male folk dance Bhangra. Giddha is performed at festivals, weddings, and social gatherings in Punjab. The dance involves energetic movements, clapping, and singing of 'Bolis' (folk verses). It is one of the most popular folk dance forms of Punjab and represents the cultural heritage of the region.
Option (a) Rajasthan — Incorrect: Rajasthan has its own folk dances like Ghoomar and Kalbeliya ; Giddha originated in Punjab, not Rajasthan.
Option (c) Maharashtra — Incorrect: Maharashtra's folk dances include Lavani and Koli; Giddha is not associated with Maharashtra.
Option (d) Gujarat — Incorrect: Gujarat is known for Garba and Dandiya folk dances; Giddha is a Punjabi folk dance, not Gujarati.

Correct Answer: Surya Dev (Sun God) — Option (c)
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival primarily dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (the goddess of the sixth day). It is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and among communities in Nepal. During Chhath, devotees offer Arghya (prayers with water) to the rising and setting sun. The festival symbolizes gratitude to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and is one of the most eco-friendly festivals of India.
Option (a) Goddess Durga — Incorrect: Goddess Durga is worshipped during Navratri and Durga Puja, not Chhath Puja.
Option (b) Lord Shiva — Incorrect: Lord Shiva is primarily worshipped during Mahashivratri and Sawan month; Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God.
Option (d) Lord Vishnu — Incorrect: Lord Vishnu is worshipped during festivals like Ekadashi and Janmashtami; Chhath Puja is specifically for Surya Dev.

Correct Answer: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai — Option (d)
The first ever IPL Final was held on June 1, 2008 at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Rajasthan Royals defeated Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets in a thrilling final to become the inaugural IPL champions. The match was played under the captaincy of Shane Warne for Rajasthan Royals. DY Patil Stadium, with a seating capacity of around 55,000, was chosen to host this landmark match.
Option (a) M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — Incorrect: M. Chinnaswamy is the home ground of Royal Challengers Bengaluru; the 2008 IPL Final was held at DY Patil Stadium.
Option (b) Eden Gardens, Kolkata — Incorrect: Eden Gardens is the home of Kolkata Knight Riders; the inaugural IPL Final was not held here.
Option (c) Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai — Incorrect: Wankhede is the home of Mumbai Indians; the 2008 IPL Final was hosted at DY Patil Stadium, not Wankhede.

Correct Answer: GSAT-7 — Option (b)
GSAT-7, also known as 'Rukmini', is an advanced multi-band military communication satellite launched by ISRO in August 2013. It is exclusively used by the Indian Navy to provide communication services across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). GSAT-7 supports communication needs in UHF, C-band, and Ku-band frequencies, enabling real-time connectivity between naval vessels at sea, aircraft, and land-based installations. It significantly enhanced the Indian Navy's network-centric warfare capabilities.
Option (a) GSAT-12 — Incorrect: GSAT-12 is a civil communication satellite for social applications (education, telemedicine); it does not serve the Indian Navy.
Option (c) GSAT-29 — Incorrect: GSAT-29 is a high-throughput communication satellite for civilian broadband services in northeastern India and Jammu & Kashmir; it is not a military/naval satellite.
Option (d) Cartosat-2 — Incorrect: Cartosat-2 is a remote sensing/earth observation satellite used for cartographic and mapping applications; it does not provide communication services for the Navy.

Correct Answer: Vasudevan Baskaran — Option (d)
Vasudevan Baskaran captained the Indian Hockey team that won the Gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. India defeated Spain 4–3 in the final to claim the gold. This was India's last Olympic gold medal in hockey to date. The 1980 Moscow Olympics were boycotted by many Western nations, but India participated and emerged victorious. Vasudevan Baskaran was a midfielder from Tamil Nadu who is remembered as one of India's finest hockey captains.
Option (a) Ajit Pal Singh — Incorrect: Ajit Pal Singh captained India at the 1975 World Cup-winning squad, not the 1980 Olympics.
Option (b) Zafar Iqbal — Incorrect: Zafar Iqbal was a key player in the 1980 Olympic team but was not the captain; Vasudevan Baskaran was the captain.
Option (c) Mohammed Shahid — Incorrect: Mohammed Shahid was a brilliant dribbler and member of the 1980 Olympic squad but did not captain the team.

Correct Answer: They performed the yagna and chanted mantras in a low voice — Option (c)
In Vedic tradition, the Adhvaryu priests were associated with the Yajurveda. Their primary role was to perform the practical aspects of the yagna (sacrificial ritual) — preparing the sacrificial ground, kindling the sacred fire, offering oblations, and chanting the Yajus (sacrificial formulas) in a low murmuring voice (unlike the Udgatri priests who sang aloud). The Yajurveda is essentially a manual for these ritual priests. The four main classes of Vedic priests were: Hotri (Rigveda), Udgatri (Samaveda), Adhvaryu (Yajurveda), and Brahmin (Atharvaveda — supervisor).
Option (a) They composed new musical ragas — Incorrect: Composing musical ragas is not the function of Adhvaryu priests; they were ritual officiants, not musicians.
Option (b) They performed dance rituals — Incorrect: Dance rituals were not part of the Adhvaryu's role; their work was entirely devoted to the mechanics of yagna.
Option (d) They wrote treatises on music theory — Incorrect: Writing on music theory is not attributed to Adhvaryu priests; their texts were the Yajurveda's ritual formulas.

Correct Answer: 0.009 radian — Option (a)
Angular diameter (in radians) = Diameter of object / Distance to object
Angular diameter = 3,474 km / 384,000 km = 0.00904... ≈ 0.009 radian
This formula applies when the angle is small (small angle approximation), which is valid here since the Moon subtends a very small angle (about 0.5°) as seen from Earth. The angular diameter of 0.009 radians is consistent with the Moon appearing about 0.5° in the sky (0.009 rad × 180/π ≈ 0.52°).
Option (b) 0.008 radian — Incorrect: 0.008 radian would require a distance of 3474/0.008 = 434,250 km, which is not the average Earth-Moon distance.
Option (c) 0.010 radian — Incorrect: 0.010 radian would require a distance of 3474/0.010 = 347,400 km, which is less than the average Earth-Moon distance.
Option (d) 0.007 radian — Incorrect: 0.007 radian would require a distance of 3474/0.007 = 496,286 km, which is beyond the typical lunar distance.

Correct Answer: It will increase — Option (a)
According to Kepler's Third Law, T² ∝ r³ (where T is the orbital period and r is the orbital radius). As altitude increases, the orbital radius (r = Earth's radius + altitude) also increases. Therefore, the orbital period T increases with increasing altitude. Additionally, at a higher altitude, the gravitational force is weaker, so the satellite moves more slowly — meaning it takes longer to complete one orbit. Moving from 300 km to 500 km altitude will result in a longer orbital period.
Option (b) It will decrease — Incorrect: The orbital period increases with altitude, not decreases. A lower orbit has a shorter period (faster speed, smaller radius).
Option (c) No change — Incorrect: The orbital period definitely changes with altitude according to Kepler's Third Law.
Option (d) It will change randomly — Incorrect: The change in orbital period with altitude is deterministic and governed by Kepler's Third Law, not random.

Correct Answer: New Delhi, India — Option (b)
The 13th BRICS Summit was held on September 9, 2021, hosted by India under its BRICS Chairship . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit was held virtually (online). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the summit. The theme was 'BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus'. The summit discussed issues such as counter-terrorism, trade, health cooperation, and multilateral reforms.
Option (a) Beijing, China — Incorrect: China hosted the 14th BRICS Summit in 2022, not the 13th. The 13th was hosted by India.
Option (c) Moscow, Russia — Incorrect: Russia hosted the 12th BRICS Summit in 2020 (virtually); the 13th was hosted by India in 2021.
Option (d) Johannesburg, South Africa — Incorrect: South Africa hosted the 15th BRICS Summit in 2023 (and also the 10th in 2018); the 13th was held under India's chairship .

Correct Answer: Promoting self-reliance in all sectors — Option (b)
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Mission) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) with the primary objective of making India self-reliant in all sectors — including manufacturing, technology, agriculture, defence , healthcare, and infrastructure. The mission aims to build domestic production capacity, reduce dependence on imports (especially from China), promote local manufacturing ('Vocal for Local'), and enhance India's competitiveness globally. It is supported by five pillars: Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography, and Demand.
Option (a) Encouraging imports — Incorrect: Atmanirbhar Bharat specifically aims to REDUCE dependence on imports by building domestic manufacturing capability; encouraging imports is the opposite of its objective.
Option (c) Subsidizing oil prices — Incorrect: Subsidizing oil prices is a specific economic policy; it is not the primary objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Option (d) Reducing food wastage — Incorrect: While reducing food wastage is a worthwhile goal, it is not the primary objective of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Correct Answer: ₹25,000 crore — Option (c)
In the Union Budget 2025-26, the Government of India allocated ₹25,000 crore for the Maritime Development Fund (MDF). This fund was announced to boost India's maritime sector, support port development, enhance shipping infrastructure, promote shipbuilding, and strengthen coastal and inland waterway transport. The allocation reflects India's ambition to develop its maritime economy, improve port efficiency, and increase India's share in global shipping — in line with the Maritime India Vision 2030.
Option (a) ₹5,000 crore — Incorrect: ₹5,000 crore significantly understates the Maritime Development Fund allocation announced in Budget 2025.
Option (b) ₹10,000 crore — Incorrect: The budget allocated ₹25,000 crore to the Maritime Development Fund, not ₹10,000 crore.
Option (d) ₹50,000 crore — Incorrect: ₹50,000 crore overstates the allocation; the actual figure announced was ₹25,000 crore.

Correct Answer: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) — Option (c)
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) was awarded the SKOCH Award in 2025 for the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg project, also known as the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg or the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway. This 701-km, 6-lane access-controlled expressway is one of India's longest expressways, connecting Nagpur to Mumbai and passing through 10 districts, 26 talukas, and 392 villages, significantly boosting connectivity and economic development in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.
Option (a) Adani Group — Incorrect: The Adani Group was not the recipient of this SKOCH Award; MSRDC, the government body that built and manages the expressway, received the recognition.
Option (b) Dalai Lama — Incorrect: The Dalai Lama has no connection to the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg infrastructure project.
Option (d) Prasar Bharati — Incorrect: Prasar Bharati is India's public broadcaster ( Doordarshan /All India Radio); it has no connection to this expressway project.

Correct Answer: Operation Brahma — Option (c)
Operation Brahma was India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operation launched in response to the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar in March 2025 (magnitude 7.7, epicentre near Mandalay). India dispatched NDRF teams, medical personnel, relief materials including food, medicines, tents, and water purifiers, as well as search and rescue equipment. The operation demonstrated India's commitment to its ' Neighbourhood First' policy and its role as a first responder in regional disaster relief.
Option (a) Operation Samudra Setu — Incorrect: Operation Samudra Setu was India's 2020 naval operation to repatriate Indian citizens stranded abroad due to COVID-19, not a Myanmar earthquake relief operation.
Option (b) Operation Sahayata — Incorrect: Operation Sahayata refers to India's relief operations in other contexts; the Myanmar 2025 earthquake response was Operation Brahma.
Option (d) Operation Maitri — Incorrect: Operation Maitri was India's relief operation for the 2015 Nepal earthquake; the 2025 Myanmar earthquake operation was Operation Brahma.

Correct Answer: Buffer zones around protected areas — Option (d)
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs), also called Eco-Fragile Zones, are areas notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ( MoEFCC ) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. ESZs are buffer zones around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries — typically within 10 km of the boundary of the protected area. Their purpose is to create a transition zone between the core protected area and the surrounding region, regulate human activities (mining, quarrying, construction, industries), and minimize the negative impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Option (a) Pollution-affected area — Incorrect: ESZs are not pollution-affected areas; they are protective buffer zones specifically designed to protect biodiversity.
Option (b) Mining zone — Incorrect: Mining is typically prohibited or heavily restricted in ESZs; ESZs are conservation zones, not mining zones.
Option (c) Wildlife corridors — Incorrect: Wildlife corridors are strips of habitat connecting fragmented areas, different from ESZs which are specifically buffer zones around protected areas.

Correct Answer: Narmada — Option (c)
Dhuandhar Waterfall (meaning 'stream of smoke' in Hindi) is formed by the Narmada River near Bhedaghat in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. As the Narmada River flows over marble rocks and falls into a narrow gorge, the water creates a thick mist resembling smoke, giving the waterfall its name. The area around Dhuandhar is famous for the Marble Rocks ( Bhedaghat ) — beautiful white marble canyon walls rising about 100 feet on both sides of the river.
Option (a) Tapti — Incorrect: The Tapti (Tapi) river flows through Maharashtra and Gujarat into the Arabian Sea; it does not form the Dhuandhar waterfall.
Option (b) Kaveri — Incorrect: The Kaveri river flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; it forms Shivanasamudra Falls, not Dhuandhar .
Option (d) Godavari — Incorrect: The Godavari is the 'Dakshin Ganga' flowing through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh; it does not form Dhuandhar Falls.

Correct Answer: Akbar — Option (a)
Akbar (1556–1605), the third Mughal Emperor, is celebrated for strengthening the Mughal Empire through outstanding administrative reforms and his policy of religious tolerance. His key contributions include: the Mansabdari system (administrative ranking of officials), abolition of Jizya tax on non-Muslims, formation of Din- i -Ilahi (a syncretic spiritual movement), Sulh- i -Kul policy (universal peace/tolerance), and integration of Rajputs through matrimonial alliances. Akbar expanded the Mughal Empire to cover most of the Indian subcontinent and is widely regarded as one of India's greatest rulers.
Option (b) Jahangir — Incorrect: Jahangir was known for justice (chain of justice/ Zanjir -e-Adl) and patronage of art, but did not achieve the level of administrative reform and religious tolerance that Akbar did.
Option (c) Aurangzeb — Incorrect: Aurangzeb was known for his religious orthodoxy and reimposed Jizya on non-Muslims — the exact opposite of religious tolerance.
Option (d) Humayun — Incorrect: Humayun (Akbar's father) spent much of his reign in exile after being defeated by Sher Shah Suri; he did not achieve significant administrative reforms.