SSC GD 2026 8 May 2026 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: Panchayati Raj — Option (b)
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) deals with Panchayati Raj institutions. It added Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) and the 11th Schedule to the Constitution. Key provisions include: mandatory elections to Panchayati Raj bodies, reservation of seats for SCs, STs, and women (not less than 1/3rd), establishment of State Finance Commission and State Election Commission, and devolution of 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule to Panchayats. It came into force on 24 April 1993, which is now celebrated as National Panchayati Raj Day.
Option (a) Anti-defection — Incorrect: Anti-defection is covered by the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment, 1985), not the 73rd.
Option (c) Tribunals — Incorrect: Tribunals are covered under Part XIV-A of the Constitution (Articles 323-A and 323-B), added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976).
Option (d) Cooperative Societies — Incorrect: Cooperative Societies are covered by the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act (2011), not the 73rd.

Correct Answer: Parliament — Option (a)
Article 262 of the Indian Constitution deals with adjudication of water disputes. Clause (1) states: 'Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.' Under this provision, Parliament enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, which provides for the establishment of Tribunals (such as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal) to resolve inter-state water disputes. Clause (2) further provides that the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction over such disputes.
Option (b) President — Incorrect: The President does not have the constitutional authority under Article 262 to adjudicate inter-state water disputes; Parliament has this power.
Option (c) Council of Ministers — Incorrect: The Council of Ministers (executive) is not the body designated under Article 262 for adjudicating inter-state water disputes; Parliament (legislature) has this power.
Option (d) Union Home Minister — Incorrect: The Union Home Minister has no specific constitutional role under Article 262 regarding inter-state water dispute adjudication.

Correct Answer: Sarojini Naidu — Option (a)
Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to be appointed as Governor of an Indian state. She was appointed as the Governor of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) in 1947, serving until 1949. Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949) was also a renowned poet (known as the 'Nightingale of India'), freedom fighter, and the first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress (1925). She was also the first Indian woman to be appointed to a high constitutional post in independent India.
Option (b) Indira Gandhi — Incorrect: Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India (1966–77, 1980–84), not as Governor; she was not the first woman Governor.
Option (c) Sucheta Kripalani — Incorrect: Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman Chief Minister of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh, 1963–67), not the first woman Governor.
Option (d) Vijayalakshmi Pandit — Incorrect: Vijayalakshmi Pandit was the first woman President of the UN General Assembly (1953) and served as Indian Ambassador to several countries, not the first woman Governor of an Indian state.

Correct Answer: Goa — Option (d)
The 37th National Games of India were hosted by Goa from October 26 to November 9, 2023. This was the first time Goa hosted the National Games. The event featured over 10,000 athletes from across India competing in 43 sports disciplines. Services Sports Control Board topped the medal tally. The Games saw multiple national records broken and were considered a successful showcase of Goa's infrastructure and sporting culture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Games.
Option (a) Maharashtra — Incorrect: Maharashtra has hosted the National Games previously but the 37th edition (2023) was in Goa.
Option (b) Gujarat — Incorrect: Gujarat hosted the 36th National Games in 2022 (held in Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Rajkot); Goa hosted the 37th edition in 2023.
Option (c) Kerala — Incorrect: Kerala has hosted previous editions of the National Games; the 37th (2023) was in Goa.

Correct Answer: Tibetan New Year — Option (c)
Losar is the Tibetan New Year festival, celebrated by Tibetan, Ladakhi, and Buddhist communities. 'Lo' means year and 'Sar' means new in Tibetan. It is one of the most important festivals for Tibetan Buddhists and is celebrated in January or February, based on the Tibetan lunar calendar. Losar is celebrated with elaborate rituals, prayers, traditional dances, family gatherings, and special foods. In India, it is prominently celebrated in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh (by the Monpa and other Buddhist tribes), Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh (Spiti and Lahaul valleys).
Option (a) Hindu New Year — Incorrect: The Hindu New Year is celebrated as Ugadi/Gudi Padwa/Vishu/Baisakhi depending on the region; Losar is specifically the Tibetan New Year.
Option (b) Tamil New Year — Incorrect: The Tamil New Year is 'Puthandu' (Vishu in Kerala), celebrated in April; Losar is the Tibetan New Year.
Option (d) Paris New Year — Incorrect: There is no 'Paris New Year' as a distinct cultural festival; Losar is the Tibetan Buddhist New Year.

Correct Answer: Abhinav Bindra — Option (c)
A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold' is the autobiography of Abhinav Bindra, co-authored with Rohit Brijnath. Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic Gold Medal when he won the 10m Air Rifle event at the Beijing Olympics 2008. The book chronicles his intense, single-minded pursuit of Olympic gold — the sacrifices, mental training, physical conditioning, and unwavering focus required to achieve this milestone. Bindra is also a Padma Bhushan awardee and one of India's most celebrated sportspersons.
Option (a) Neeraj Chopra — Incorrect: Neeraj Chopra (Olympic Gold medalist in Javelin, Tokyo 2020) has not authored this book; 'A Shot at History' belongs to Abhinav Bindra.
Option (b) Gagan Narang — Incorrect: Gagan Narang is an Olympic Bronze medalist in shooting (London 2012); he did not write 'A Shot at History'.
Option (d) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore — Incorrect: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won a Silver medal in Double Trap shooting at Athens 2004; he did not author this autobiography.

Correct Answer: 2020 — Option (a)
India's highest medal tally in any single Olympics (till Paris 2024) was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), where India won 7 medals: 1 Gold (Neeraj Chopra — Javelin Throw), 2 Silver (Mirabai Chanu — Weightlifting; Ravi Kumar Dahiya — Wrestling), 4 Bronze (P V Sindhu — Badminton; Lovlina Borgohain — Boxing; India Men's Hockey Team; Bajrang Punia — Wrestling). This surpassed India's previous best of 6 medals at London 2012. At Paris 2024, India won 6 medals (1 Silver, 5 Bronze), less than Tokyo 2020's 7.
Option (b) 1932 — Incorrect: India won gold in hockey at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, but the total medal count was not India's highest.
Option (c) 2008 — Incorrect: India won 3 medals at Beijing 2008 (1 Gold — Abhinav Bindra, 1 Silver — Sushil Kumar, 1 Bronze — Sushil Kumar/Gagan Narang/Vijender Singh); 2008 is not the highest tally.
Option (d) 2012 — Incorrect: India won 6 medals at London 2012, which was the record until Tokyo 2020 where India won 7 medals.

Correct Answer: 8 — Option (c)
India's Air Quality Index (AQI), launched by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2014, measures 8 pollutants: (1) PM2.5 (Particulate Matter < 2.5 micrometres), (2) PM10 (Particulate Matter < 10 micrometres), (3) NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide), (4) SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide), (5) CO (Carbon Monoxide), (6) O₃ (Ozone), (7) NH₃ (Ammonia), (8) Pb (Lead). The AQI categorizes air quality into six categories from 'Good' (0–50) to 'Severe' (401–500). The highest AQI among all measured pollutants determines the overall AQI.
Option (a) 4 — Incorrect: India's AQI measures 8 pollutants, not 4.
Option (b) 6 — Incorrect: Six is not the correct number; India's AQI covers 8 pollutants.
Option (d) 10 — Incorrect: The AQI measures 8 specific pollutants, not 10.

Correct Answer: To cut off the supply of air, reduce the temperature of the fuel, or both — Option (d)
Fire requires three elements — fuel, oxygen (air), and heat — known as the 'Fire Triangle'. A fire extinguisher works by eliminating one or more of these elements. It can: (1) Cut off the supply of oxygen/air (e.g., CO₂ extinguishers displace oxygen), (2) Reduce the temperature of the fuel below its ignition point (e.g., water extinguishers cool the fuel), or (3) Both simultaneously (e.g., dry chemical powder extinguishers both smother and cool). Different types of extinguishers (water, CO₂, foam, dry powder, wet chemical) work on different mechanisms based on the type of fire.
Option (a) To add more fuel to the fire — Incorrect: This would increase the fire; extinguishers are designed to suppress fire by removing fuel, heat, or oxygen.
Option (b) To increase the temperature of the fuel — Incorrect: Increasing fuel temperature would intensify the fire; extinguishers reduce temperature.
Option (c) To increase the supply of air — Incorrect: Increasing air (oxygen) supply would intensify combustion; extinguishers cut off or displace oxygen.

Correct Answer: People's perception of having control over life decisions — Option (b)
In the World Happiness Report (WHR), 'Freedom to make life choices' is one of the six key variables used to measure happiness. It refers to people's perception of having control over important life decisions — the national average of binary responses to the question: 'Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?' It measures subjective autonomy and personal agency, not political freedom, economic policy, or media freedom. The other five variables in WHR are: GDP per capita, Social support, Healthy life expectancy, Generosity, and Freedom from corruption.
Option (a) Freedom of media — Incorrect: Media freedom is a separate concept (measured by Press Freedom Index); 'Freedom to make life choices' in WHR refers to personal autonomy over life decisions.
Option (c) Economic liberalization — Incorrect: Economic liberalization is a macroeconomic policy; 'Freedom to make life choices' measures individual-level subjective perception of autonomy.
Option (d) Political democracy — Incorrect: Political democracy relates to governance systems; 'Freedom to make life choices' in WHR is about individual satisfaction with personal freedom.

Correct Answer: Very high, leading to crisis — Option (d)
By 1990, India's external debt had become very high, leading to the Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis of 1990–91. India's foreign exchange reserves had fallen to a critically low level (enough for only about 2–3 weeks of imports), and the country was unable to service its external debt obligations. India had to pledge 67 tonnes of gold to the Bank of England and 47 tonnes to the Union Bank of Switzerland to secure emergency loans from the IMF. This crisis forced India to initiate sweeping economic reforms in 1991 under Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, leading to liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG reforms).
Option (a) Zero — Incorrect: India's external debt was very high by 1990, not zero.
Option (b) Negligible — Incorrect: The debt was at a crisis-inducing level, far from negligible.
Option (c) Manageable — Incorrect: The debt was not manageable — India had to pledge gold and approach the IMF for emergency assistance, indicating a severe crisis.

Correct Answer: Moral suasion — Option (d)
RBI's monetary policy tools are classified as Quantitative (General) and Qualitative (Selective) tools. Quantitative tools affect the overall money supply in the economy: Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) — the percentage of deposits banks must keep with RBI; Bank Rate — the rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks for long-term; Open Market Operations (OMO) — buying/selling of government securities; Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR); Repo Rate; Reverse Repo Rate. Moral Suasion is a QUALITATIVE tool — RBI persuades banks through persuasion, suggestion, and appeal to follow certain policies without using statutory powers. It is not a quantitative (volume-based) tool.
Option (a) Cash Reserve Ratio — Incorrect to select as the answer: CRR IS a quantitative tool that controls the overall money supply by mandating banks to maintain a fraction of deposits with RBI.
Option (b) Bank rate — Incorrect to select as the answer: Bank rate IS a quantitative tool that influences the cost of credit and overall money supply.
Option (c) Open Market Operations — Incorrect to select as the answer: OMO IS a quantitative tool — when RBI buys securities, money supply increases; when it sells, money supply decreases.

Correct Answer: Monopolized salt production and imposed heavy taxes — Option (a)
The British Salt Law (formally the Salt Act of 1882) was criticized because it gave the British government a complete monopoly over salt production and imposed heavy taxes on it. Indians were prohibited from producing or collecting salt independently, even from the sea or natural salt deposits. All salt had to be purchased from government-authorized sources at highly inflated prices. This was particularly oppressive because salt was a dietary necessity for every Indian. Mahatma Gandhi chose salt as the symbol of his civil disobedience campaign — the famous Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) of 1930 — to protest these unjust laws.
Option (b) Encouraged private salt industries — Incorrect: The Salt Law did the opposite — it suppressed private/local salt production and established a government monopoly.
Option (c) Allowed Indians free access to salt pans — Incorrect: Indians were DENIED access to salt pans; they could not collect salt freely from natural sources.
Option (d) Abolished traditional salt-making methods — Incorrect: While the law effectively suppressed traditional methods, its primary criticism was that it monopolized production and imposed heavy taxes, making salt unaffordable for common Indians.

Correct Answer: Vishnu — Option (b)
The Alvars were Tamil poet-saints (6th–9th centuries CE) who were devoted to Lord Vishnu (Narayana). There were 12 Alvars in total, including Periyalvar, Andal (the only woman among them), Nammalvar, and Thirumangai Alvar. Their devotional hymns are collectively known as the 'Nalayira Divya Prabandham' (4000 Divine Verses), which form the scriptural canon of Sri Vaishnavism. The Alvars' devotional movement was a precursor to the Bhakti movement in North India and significantly influenced the spread of Vaishnavism across South India.
Option (a) Durga — Incorrect: Durga is worshipped by the Shakti tradition; the Alvars were specifically Vaishnava saints devoted to Vishnu.
Option (c) Agni — Incorrect: Agni (fire deity) is worshipped in Vedic rituals; the Alvars were devotees of Vishnu, not Agni.
Option (d) Indra — Incorrect: Indra is the Vedic king of gods; the Alvars' devotion was entirely directed towards Vishnu/Narayana.

Correct Answer: 63,843 — Option (a)
The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) was launched on 2 October 2024 (Gandhi Jayanti) by PM Narendra Modi, named after Birsa Munda (who is revered as 'Dharti Aaba' — Father of the Earth). The scheme targets 63,843 tribal villages across 30 states/UTs with a total outlay of ₹79,156 crore. It aims to provide saturation coverage of infrastructure and services (roads, housing, clean water, electricity, healthcare, education, mobile connectivity) in villages with predominantly Scheduled Tribe populations. The scheme covers approximately 5.5 crore tribal beneficiaries.
Option (b) 78,569 — Incorrect: The correct number of tribal villages targeted under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is 63,843, not 78,569.
Option (c) 58,475 — Incorrect: 58,475 is not the correct figure; the scheme targets 63,843 tribal villages.
Option (d) 85,654 — Incorrect: 85,654 is not the number targeted; the correct figure is 63,843 villages.

Correct Answer: Mumbai — Option (d)
The Government of India launched the 5th Marine Census at the Coastal State Fisheries Conference 2025 held in Mumbai. The Marine Census is conducted by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The Marine Census aims to provide comprehensive data on marine fisheries resources, fishing vessels, fishing communities, and infrastructure along India's coastline. India has a coastline of approximately 8,118 km, and the marine fisheries sector is vital for food security and livelihood of millions of coastal communities.
Option (a) Kolkata — Incorrect: Kolkata is not a coastal city on the marine fisheries front for this launch; the Coastal State Fisheries Conference 2025 and the 5th Marine Census launch was in Mumbai.
Option (b) Cuttack — Incorrect: Cuttack is an inland city in Odisha; the 5th Marine Census was launched in Mumbai.
Option (c) Chennai — Incorrect: Chennai is a major coastal city, but the 5th Marine Census was launched at the conference held in Mumbai.

Correct Answer: Brasilia — Option (b)
The 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in Brasilia, Brazil, in June 2025. Brazil held the BRICS Presidency in 2025, and as part of its chairmanship activities, hosted this parliamentary forum bringing together legislators from BRICS member nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and the new members that joined in 2024 — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE). The forum discussed parliamentary cooperation, sustainable development, and multilateral issues.
Option (a) Beijing — Incorrect: Beijing (China) hosted BRICS-related events during China's BRICS presidency (2022); the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in June 2025 was held in Brasilia under Brazil's presidency.
Option (c) Shanghai — Incorrect: Shanghai is China's financial hub; the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was not held there.
Option (d) Vladivostok — Incorrect: Vladivostok is a Russian city known for the Eastern Economic Forum; the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in Brasilia, Brazil.

Correct Answer: Dharma — Option (c)
In the Vedic/Hindu philosophical framework, life is guided by four Purusharthas (aims of life): Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Dharma specifically emphasizes ethical living, righteous conduct, moral duties, and adherence to cosmic and social order (Rita and Dharma). It encompasses duties towards family, society, and the universe, and guides all other aims of life. Dharma is considered the foundation upon which Artha and Kama should be pursued, and it serves as the path towards Moksha.
Option (a) Artha — Incorrect: Artha refers to material prosperity, wealth, and the means of livelihood — it is about economic and political goals, not specifically ethical living.
Option (b) Kama — Incorrect: Kama refers to desire, pleasure, love, and aesthetic enjoyment — it represents sensory and emotional fulfillment, not ethical conduct.
Option (d) Moksha — Incorrect: Moksha is the ultimate goal — liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara); while ethical living supports the path to Moksha, Dharma specifically emphasizes ethical conduct.

Correct Answer: Writing — Option (c)
Writing is a voluntary action — it is consciously initiated and controlled by the cerebral cortex (somatic nervous system). Voluntary actions require conscious thought and deliberate effort. In contrast: Vomiting is a reflex action (though it can sometimes be consciously suppressed, it is triggered by the vomiting centre in the medulla oblongata); Salivation is primarily an involuntary reflex controlled by the autonomic nervous system (though it can be triggered by thought of food); Breathing is predominantly involuntary (controlled by the respiratory centre in the brainstem) though it can be temporarily brought under voluntary control.
Option (a) Vomiting — Incorrect: Vomiting is primarily an involuntary reflex action coordinated by the vomiting centre in the medulla oblongata of the brain stem.
Option (b) Salivation — Incorrect: Salivation is an involuntary reflex action controlled by the autonomic nervous system in response to food stimuli.
Option (d) Breathing — Incorrect: Breathing is primarily an involuntary action regulated by the respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata, though it can temporarily be brought under voluntary control.

Correct Answer: Ministry of Home Affairs — Option (a)
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI) functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. The ORGI is responsible for conducting the decennial Census of India, maintaining the Civil Registration System (CRS), and managing the National Population Register (NPR). The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India is appointed by the Government of India and oversees all census operations across the country. India conducts a census every 10 years, with the most recent one pending (2021 Census was delayed due to COVID-19).
Option (b) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation — Incorrect: MoSPI handles national statistical surveys (NSSO, CSO) and GDP data; the Census Commissioner's office is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Option (c) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — Incorrect: This ministry deals with welfare of SCs, OBCs, and persons with disabilities; it does not oversee the Census Commissioner's office.
Option (d) Ministry of Human Resource Development — Incorrect: The Ministry of HRD (now renamed Ministry of Education) deals with education policy; it does not control the Registrar General and Census Commissioner's office.