SSC GD 2026 7 May 2026 Shift 3 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: The act of storytelling — Option (b)
The word 'Kathak' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Katha' ( कथा ), meaning story or narrative. Kathak thus literally means 'the act of storytelling' or 'one who tells stories'. Kathak is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating in North India (Uttar Pradesh). Historically, Kathak artists ( Kathakas ) narrated stories from Hindu epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata) and Puranas through expressive gestures, footwork, and expressions. It flourished under Mughal patronage and incorporated Persian/Central Asian elements. Key gharanas (schools) include Lucknow, Jaipur, and Banaras.
Option (a) Dance of rhythm — Incorrect: While Kathak involves rhythm, its literal meaning is related to storytelling ('katha' = story), not rhythm alone.
Option (c) Divine rhythm — Incorrect: 'Divine rhythm' is not the etymological meaning of Kathak; the word comes from 'katha' (story).
Option (d) Rhythmic cycle — Incorrect: While 'taal' and rhythmic cycles are integral to Kathak performance, they are not the meaning of the word 'Kathak' itself.

Correct Answer: Narinder Singh Kapany — Option (c)
Narinder Singh Kapany (1926–2020) is called the 'Father of Fiber Optics'. Born in Moga, Punjab, India, Kapany pioneered the science of fiber optics while working at Imperial College London in the 1950s. He demonstrated that light could be transmitted through flexible glass fibers, even around bends — the foundational principle of fiber optic communication. He invented the term 'fiber optics' and held over 100 patents. His work forms the basis of modern fiber optic communication, medical endoscopy, and internet infrastructure. He was also listed by Fortune magazine in 1999 as one of the seven 'Unsung Heroes' of the 20th century.
Option (a) Kunal Kapoor — Incorrect: Kunal Kapoor is an Indian actor and entrepreneur; he has no connection to the invention of fiber optics.
Option (b) Vivek Sahgal — Incorrect: Vivek Sahgal is an Indian businessman; he did not develop fiber optics.
Option (d) Jai Chaudhry — Incorrect: Jai Chaudhry is an American entrepreneur (founder of Zscaler); he is not the father of fiber optics.

Correct Answer: 2020 — Option (d)
Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2020 (officially the 'Tokyo 2020 Olympics'), though the event was actually held in 2021 (July 23 – August 8, 2021) due to the postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the second time Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympics (the first being 1964). India won 7 medals at Tokyo 2020, including a historic gold in Javelin Throw by Neeraj Chopra. The Tokyo Olympics were unique as they were held without spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Option (a) 2000 — Incorrect: The 2000 Summer Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia, not Tokyo.
Option (b) 2004 — Incorrect: The 2004 Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, not Tokyo.
Option (c) 2008 — Incorrect: The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China, not Tokyo.

Correct Answer: Only II — Option (b)
The 4×600 metres relay (Statement II) does NOT exist as a standard relay event in track athletics. Standard Olympic relay events include the 4×100m and 4×400m. The 4×100 metres relay (Statement I) IS a standard, well-established relay event — it is one of the fastest and most popular events in track and field, contested at the Olympics since 1912. The 4×600m is not a recognized relay distance in standard athletics competitions.
Option (a) Only I — Incorrect: The 4×100m relay IS a standard track relay event; only the 4×600m (Statement II) is not a recognized relay.
Option (c) Both I and II — Incorrect: The 4×100m IS a valid relay event; only the 4×600m is not standard.
Option (d) Neither I nor II — Incorrect: The 4×600m is NOT a standard relay; saying neither means both are standard, which is incorrect.

Correct Answer: Ramamatya — Option (d)
Swaramela-kalanidhi ( स्वरमेलकलानिधि ) — 'The Treasury of the Science of the Scale' — was written by Ramamatya in 1550 CE. It is a significant 16th-century Sanskrit treatise on South Indian classical (Carnatic) music, particularly on the theory of musical scales (melas) and ragas. Ramamatya was a scholar in the court of a Vijayanagara king in Karnataka. His work systematized the classification of ragas based on their parent scales (melas), which later influenced the 72-melakarta scheme developed by Venkatamakhi in the 17th century.
Option (a) Matanga — Incorrect: Matanga authored 'Brihaddeshi' (9th century CE), an important ancient musicological text discussing raga and other music concepts; not Swaramela-kalanidhi .
Option (b) Sharngadeva — Incorrect: Sharngadeva authored 'Sangita Ratnakara' (13th century CE), one of the most comprehensive treatises on Indian classical music; not Swaramela-kalanidhi .
Option (c) Haripal — Incorrect: Haripal authored 'Sangita Sudhakara', another medieval music treatise; he did not write Swaramela-kalanidhi .

Correct Answer: Mahabharata — Option (b)
The belief that dying during Uttarayana (the northward journey of the Sun, roughly mid-January to mid-July) grants moksha (liberation) is prominently mentioned in the Mahabharata. The most famous illustration is that of Bhishma Pitamah: after being fatally wounded by Arjuna's arrows in the Kurukshetra war, Bhishma had the boon of Iccha Mrityu (death at will). He lay on a bed of arrows and waited for the auspicious period of Uttarayana to arrive before departing his body. This moment is described in detail in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata.
Option (a) Ramayana — Incorrect: The Ramayana does not specifically discuss Uttarayana as a time for achieving moksha through death; this concept is from the Mahabharata.
Option (c) Bhagavata Purana — Incorrect: While the Bhagavata Purana discusses moksha extensively, the specific episode of Uttarayana and death granting liberation is from the Mahabharata (Bhishma's story).
Option (d) Vedas — Incorrect: The Vedas are ancient hymns and rituals texts; the Uttarayana -moksha connection through Bhishma's story is in the Mahabharata, not the Vedas.

Correct Answer: 7.6 × 10⁶ s — Option (a)
Calculation: 88 Earth days × 24 hours/day × 3600 seconds/hour
= 88 × 24 × 3600
= 88 × 86,400
= 7,603,200 seconds
≈ 7.6 × 10⁶ seconds
This corresponds to Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, which has an orbital period of approximately 88 Earth days (87.97 days to be precise). The planet's short orbital period reflects its proximity to the Sun and high orbital speed (~47.87 km/s).
Option (b) 6.8 × 10⁶ s — Incorrect: 6.8 × 10⁶ s ≈ 78.7 days, which is less than 88 days.
Option (c) 7.1 × 10⁶ s — Incorrect: 7.1 × 10⁶ s ≈ 82.2 days, not 88 days.
Option (d) 7.9 × 10⁶ s — Incorrect: 7.9 × 10⁶ s ≈ 91.4 days, which exceeds 88 days.

Correct Answer: Direction of electric current — Option (a)
Fleming's Left Hand Rule is used to find the direction of force on a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field. The rule states: Hold the forefinger (index finger), middle finger (second finger), and thumb of the left hand mutually perpendicular to each other. The forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic field (B); the middle finger (second finger) points in the direction of the electric current (I); the thumb points in the direction of the force (F) or motion of the conductor. This rule is used in electric motors.
Option (b) Direction of magnetic field — Incorrect: The forefinger (index/first finger) represents the direction of the magnetic field in Fleming's Left Hand Rule, not the middle finger.
Option (c) Force acting on the conductor — Incorrect: The thumb represents the direction of force/motion of the conductor in Fleming's Left Hand Rule.
Option (d) Measurement of resistance — Incorrect: Resistance is not represented by any finger in Fleming's Left Hand Rule; the rule deals with current, magnetic field, and force directions.

Correct Answer: Jupiter — Option (b)
Jupiter is called the 'stormy planet' due to its extreme and persistent atmospheric storms. The most famous is the Great Red Spot — a massive anticyclonic storm larger than Earth that has been raging for over 350 years. Jupiter's atmosphere features powerful wind jets, enormous storm systems, and lightning activity far exceeding Earth's. The planet has no solid surface, consisting of swirling gas layers (primarily hydrogen and helium) with constant turbulent weather patterns. Jupiter is also the largest planet in our solar system.
Option (a) Mercury — Incorrect: Mercury has virtually no atmosphere and therefore no storms; it is known for extreme temperature fluctuations.
Option (c) Mars — Incorrect: While Mars experiences dust storms (some global in scale), it is not called the 'stormy planet'; Jupiter earns this title due to the Great Red Spot and constant giant storms.
Option (d) Venus — Incorrect: Venus has thick sulfuric acid clouds and strong winds, but it is known as the 'hottest planet' or 'Earth's twin', not the 'stormy planet'.

Correct Answer: Evaporation from oceans — Option (a)
The primary source of water vapour in the atmosphere is evaporation from oceans. Oceans cover approximately 71% of Earth's surface and are the dominant source of atmospheric moisture. Solar radiation heats the ocean surface, causing water molecules to evaporate and enter the atmosphere as water vapour . This process is part of the hydrological (water) cycle. Oceans contribute approximately 86% of global evaporation, with the remaining 14% coming from land surfaces, lakes, rivers, transpiration from plants, etc.
Option (b) Combustion — Incorrect: While combustion (burning of fuels) does produce water vapour as a byproduct (e.g., H₂ + O₂ → H₂O), its contribution to atmospheric water vapour is negligible compared to oceanic evaporation.
Option (c) Photosynthesis — Incorrect: Photosynthesis uses water (rather than producing it as a net atmospheric source); transpiration from plants adds some moisture, but this is far less than oceanic evaporation.
Option (d) Industrial smoke — Incorrect: Industrial emissions add pollutants and some moisture to the atmosphere, but this is an insignificant source of water vapour compared to evaporation from oceans.

Correct Answer: Luni — Option (c)
The Luni river is the main river that flows through the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan. It originates from the Pushkar Lake near Ajmer (from the Aravalli Hills) and flows southwest through the desert districts of Barmer and Jalor before draining into the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The Luni is a saline river — its water is fresh in the upper reaches but becomes increasingly brackish downstream (its name comes from 'Lavani', meaning salt). It is the only significant river that flows through the Thar Desert.
Option (a) Chambal — Incorrect: The Chambal flows through eastern Rajasthan (Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur ) and then into Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; it does not flow through the Thar Desert.
Option (b) Banas — Incorrect: The Banas river flows through eastern Rajasthan ( Rajsamand , Chittorgarh, Bhilwara) and joins the Chambal; it does not flow through the desert.
Option (d) Sabarmati — Incorrect: The Sabarmati river flows through Gujarat (Ahmedabad), not through the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.

Correct Answer: Manipur — Option (d)
Loktak Lake is located in Manipur and is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for its unique floating islands called ' phumdis ' — heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter of varying sizes and thickness. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating national park, is situated on Loktak Lake and is the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer), the state animal of Manipur. The lake is also designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Option (a) Tripura — Incorrect: Tripura's major lakes include Rudrasagar Lake (where Neermahal palace is situated); Loktak is in Manipur.
Option (b) Nagaland — Incorrect: Nagaland does not have a lake named Loktak ; the lake is in neighbouring Manipur.
Option (c) Assam — Incorrect: Assam has the Deepor Beel wetland and several other lakes, but Loktak Lake is in Manipur, not Assam.

Correct Answer: 70 — Option (d)
Magnetite ( Fe₃O ₄) is the best quality iron ore with approximately 70-72% iron content — the highest among all iron ore types. It has a black metallic lustre and is magnetic. Types of iron ore by iron content: Magnetite ~70-72% (best quality); Haematite ( Fe₂O ₃) ~60-70% (most commonly used commercially); Limonite ( Fe₂O ₃· nH₂O ) ~40-60%; Siderite ( FeCO ₃) ~30-40% (lowest grade). Magnetite is found in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu in India. Despite its highest iron content, Haematite is more widely used due to its greater abundance.
Option (a) 25 — Incorrect: 25% iron content corresponds to very low-grade iron ore (close to Siderite range); Magnetite has ~70% iron.
Option (b) 45 — Incorrect: 45% iron content falls in the Limonite range; Magnetite is far superior with ~70% iron.
Option (c) 55 — Incorrect: 55% iron content is in the range of average Haematite ; Magnetite has a higher iron percentage of approximately 70%.

Correct Answer: Brazil — Option (c)
The 2nd BRIC Summit was held in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 16, 2010. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hosted the summit. The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC — before South Africa joined to make it BRICS in 2011) attended. Key discussions included global economic governance, reform of international financial institutions, and strengthening of multilateral trade. The Brasilia Declaration was issued at the conclusion. The 1st BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
Option (a) Russia — Incorrect: Russia hosted the 1st BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg (2009); the 2nd Summit was in Brazil in 2010.
Option (b) India — Incorrect: India hosted the 3rd BRIC Summit in Sanya (no — wait, India hosted the 4th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in 2012); the 2nd was in Brazil.
Option (d) China — Incorrect: China hosted the 3rd BRIC Summit in Sanya, Hainan, in 2011; the 2nd was in Brazil in 2010.

Correct Answer: Gujarat — Option (d)
Gujarat was ranked first under the PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) Yojana for the month of July 2025. PM-JANMAN was launched on 15 November 2023 ( Janjatiya Gaurav Divas) to improve the socio-economic conditions of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across India. The scheme covers 75 PVTG communities across 18 states/UTs and provides benefits in areas of housing, road connectivity, clean drinking water, mobile medical units, anganwadi centres , and livelihood.
Option (a) Madhya Pradesh — Incorrect: Madhya Pradesh has a large tribal population and performs well under tribal welfare schemes, but Gujarat was ranked first for July 2025 under PM-JANMAN.
Option (b) Maharashtra — Incorrect: Maharashtra was not the top-ranked state under PM-JANMAN for July 2025.
Option (c) Uttar Pradesh — Incorrect: Uttar Pradesh was not the top-ranked state under PM-JANMAN for July 2025; Gujarat achieved first rank.

Correct Answer: Naya Bharat — Option (d)
The theme for India's 79th Independence Day celebration on 15 August 2025 at the Red Fort, New Delhi, was 'Naya Bharat' (New India). The theme reflects India's vision of emerging as a developed, self-reliant, and modern nation by 2047 (Viksit Bharat @2047). The celebrations at the Red Fort included PM Narendra Modi's address to the nation, the unfurling of the national flag, and cultural programs showcasing India's progress and aspirations.
Option (a) Azadi Ka Amrit — Incorrect: 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' was the theme for the 75th Independence Day (2021), marking 75 years of independence; it is not the 2025 theme.
Option (b) Swarnim Bharat — Incorrect: 'Swarnim Bharat' (Golden India) was not the official theme for the 79th Independence Day in 2025.
Option (c) Vikas Ki Manzil — Incorrect: While India's development goals are central to its national agenda, 'Vikas Ki Manzil' was not the official theme for the 79th Independence Day celebrations.

Correct Answer: July — Option (b)
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 was unveiled by Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah in New Delhi in July 2025. The policy aims to strengthen the cooperative sector in India, promote cooperative federalism, and align the cooperative movement with India's development goals under the vision of ' Sahakar se Samridhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation). The Ministry of Cooperation was established in 2021 under Amit Shah to give a new impetus to the cooperative sector in India.
Option (a) January — Incorrect: The National Cooperation Policy 2025 was unveiled in July 2025, not January.
Option (c) April — Incorrect: The policy was unveiled in July 2025, not April.
Option (d) May — Incorrect: The National Cooperation Policy 2025 was unveiled in July 2025, not May.

Correct Answer: IIT Kanpur — Option (c)
The Sabal-20, an electric unmanned helicopter (drone), was developed by IIT Kanpur and was acquired by the Indian Army in November 2024. The Sabal-20 is a fully indigenous rotary-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying payloads for surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics in difficult terrains. It was developed by researchers at IIT Kanpur and represents India's growing capability in indigenous defense drone technology. The Indian Army's adoption of Sabal-20 is part of India's push for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) in defense.
Option (a) IIT Bombay — Incorrect: IIT Bombay has expertise in robotics and aerospace, but the Sabal-20 unmanned helicopter was developed by IIT Kanpur.
Option (b) IIT Delhi — Incorrect: IIT Delhi was not the institution that developed the Sabal-20; it was developed by IIT Kanpur.
Option (d) IIT Madras — Incorrect: IIT Madras is known for its work in various technology domains, but the Sabal-20 electric unmanned helicopter is a product of IIT Kanpur.

Correct Answer: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) — Option (a)
In January 2025, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) announced the indigenous development and production of Paracetamol (acetaminophen) in India. This was significant because India had largely depended on China for the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) para-aminophenol used in making Paracetamol. CSIR developed an indigenous process to manufacture Paracetamol's API domestically, reducing import dependence and strengthening India's pharmaceutical self-reliance. This aligns with the government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for pharmaceuticals and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.
Option (b) AIIMS — Incorrect: AIIMS is a premier medical institution focused on healthcare, education, and clinical research; it did not develop the indigenous Paracetamol production process announced in January 2025.
Option (c) Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital — Incorrect: This medical institution was not involved in the January 2025 announcement of indigenous Paracetamol development.
Option (d) Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute — Incorrect: This Kerala-based institution was not the organisation that developed indigenous Paracetamol; it was CSIR.

Correct Answer: Zakat — Option (b)
Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and was a mandatory religious tax levied on all Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate. It is a form of almsgiving — Muslims who possess wealth above a minimum threshold ( nisab ) are required to give 2.5% of their accumulated savings annually as Zakat. The funds collected as Zakat were used for the welfare of the poor, debtors, travelers, and for religious purposes. During the Delhi Sultanate, the state formally collected and distributed Zakat as a religious obligation.
Option (a) Mamluk — Incorrect: Mamluk refers to slave soldiers/dynasty, not a tax; the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty was the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1290).
Option (c) Kismat — Incorrect: Kismat ( qismat ) referred to a share or portion (sometimes used in context of revenue division); it was not a standard religious tax on all Muslims.
Option (d) Ur — Incorrect: 'Ur' is not a recognized Islamic religious tax in the context of the Delhi Sultanate; Zakat is the correct religious tax on Muslims.