SSC MTS 2025 13 February 2026 Shift 3 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

The Hiranyagarbha ritual was a Vedic purification rite in which a person was symbolically 'reborn' by passing through a golden cow effigy ( hiranya = gold, garbha = womb). It was officiated and conducted entirely by Brahmanas, who were the only caste authorised to perform Vedic rituals. The rite was often used by kings or wealthy individuals wishing to claim higher ritual status.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kshatriyas: They were the recipients of such rituals, not the conductors.
- Vaishyas: They did not perform Vedic rituals as officiants.
- Shudras: Shudras were not permitted to participate in or conduct Vedic rituals.

The Sisodiyas of Mewar were unique among Rajput clans in their relationship with the Mughals. After their eventual submission, the Mughals honourably treated the Sisodiyas and returned their watan (homeland territory) to them as zamindari/ mansab assignments — a mark of respect that set them apart. Notably, unlike other Rajput clans, the Sisodiyas were never required to offer daughters in marriage to the Mughal emperor, which was considered a special honour.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Rathore: The Rathores of Marwar had a different relationship with the Mughals and are not specifically noted for this particular honourable treatment after defeat.
- Kachhwaha : They allied with the Mughals early and willingly (e.g., Raja Man Singh); they were not defeated first.
- Chauhan: Not particularly noted for this specific historical episode of honourable treatment and watan return.

The Sixth Five Year Plan (1980–1985) had poverty alleviation ( Garibi Hatao) as its primary focus. It aimed at direct attack on poverty through raising productivity, generating employment, and improving the standard of living of the poorest sections of society. It also focused on technological upgradation and promoting export-oriented industries.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Increasing foreign investment: Not the central theme of the Sixth Plan.
- Nuclear power: India's nuclear ambitions were a separate policy domain and not the core focus of the Sixth Plan.
- Export share: While trade was considered, it was not the main focus.

The General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC) was formed under the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972. It was incorporated on 22 November 1972 and commenced its operations on January 1, 1973, when the general insurance industry was nationalised in India.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1965: GIC did not exist in this form at this time.
- 1969: 1969 was the year of bank nationalisation, not general insurance.
- 1971: GIC had not yet been established by this year.

India's Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Policy was announced in April 2000 as part of the Export-Import (EXIM) Policy. The SEZ policy was introduced to provide export-oriented industries with a hassle-free environment, tax incentives, and world-class infrastructure. The SEZ Act, 2005 was later passed to provide a comprehensive legislative framework.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 2013: The SEZ policy had already been in operation for 13 years by 2013.
- 2016: Incorrect; the policy was launched in 2000.
- 2019: This is well after the original SEZ policy was announced.

The Gandak River (also known as Narayani or Gandaki) originates in Nepal and flows through Bihar in India before joining the Ganga near Hajipur in Bihar. It is a major right-bank tributary of the Ganga.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Ravi: The Ravi is a tributary of the Indus; Gandak does not join it.
- Indus: Gandak flows eastward and does not join the Indus system.
- Mahi: The Mahi is a west-flowing river in Gujarat; Gandak is entirely in eastern India.

Ima Keithel (literally 'mother's market' in Meitei language) is a famous all-women market located in Imphal, Manipur. It is one of the largest all-women markets in Asia, where thousands of women vendors sell textiles, vegetables, fish, and household goods. It has a history of over 500 years and is a symbol of women's economic empowerment.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kochi: A major port city in Kerala with its own markets; Ima Keithel is not associated with Kochi.
- Hyderabad: Known for markets like Laad Bazaar and Begum Bazaar; not Ima Keithel.
- New Delhi: India's capital has numerous markets, but Ima Keithel is specific to Imphal.

A Thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. It works on the principle of thermal expansion of liquids (mercury or alcohol) or uses electronic sensors to detect temperature changes. It is expressed in Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), or Kelvin (K).
Why other options are incorrect:
- Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure, not temperature.
- Hygrometer: Measures humidity (moisture content) in the air.
- Hydrometer: Measures the specific gravity (density) of liquids.

A Sphygmomanometer is the instrument used to measure blood pressure. It measures systolic and diastolic pressure and is expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Normal blood pressure is approximately 120/80 mmHg.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Hygrometer: Measures atmospheric humidity, not blood pressure.
- Thermometer: Measures body or environmental temperature.
- Weighing balance: Measures the mass of objects; has no role in measuring blood pressure.

Friction is a resistive force that acts on a moving object and always opposes the relative motion between two surfaces in contact. By Newton's laws, friction acts in the direction exactly opposite to the direction of motion of the object, thereby slowing it down.
Why other options are incorrect:
- In the same direction: Friction opposes motion; it never acts in the same direction as motion.
- Perpendicular to the direction of motion: Normal force acts perpendicular to the surface; friction acts along the surface, opposing motion.
- Randomly directed: Friction follows a definite direction — always opposing motion; it is not random.

Harshavardhana (Harsha), the 7th-century emperor of northern India, was a renowned literary figure who authored three Sanskrit plays: Ratnavali, Priyadarshika , and Nagananda . Ratnavali is a romantic comedy based on a story of a princess and her love for a king.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Rajaraja I: A Chola king known for temple construction ( Brihadeeswarar Temple), not literary works.
- Dantidurga : Founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty; not known for literary contributions.
- Amoghavarsha I: A Rashtrakuta ruler who authored ' Kavirajamarga ' in Kannada, not Ratnavali.

Gandhara art emerged from the fusion of Hellenistic (Greek) and Indian artistic traditions in the ancient Gandhara region (modern-day northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan) during the 1st–5th centuries CE. This blending resulted in Buddha images with distinctly Greek features — draped robes, realistic facial features, and wavy hair — combined with Indian spiritual iconography.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Vaishali: An ancient city in Bihar associated with Buddhism; not a distinct art style resulting from Greek-Indian fusion.
- Amaravati: An Indian Buddhist art school from Andhra Pradesh characterised by white limestone sculptures; it developed independently without Greek influence.
- Mathura: The Mathura school of art was a purely Indian tradition that developed indigenous representations of the Buddha.

Article 117 of the Indian Constitution deals with special provisions relating to financial bills. It specifies that bills which contain provisions for imposing taxes, borrowing by the government, appropriation of money from the Consolidated Fund of India, or custody of money require prior recommendation of the President before being introduced in Parliament.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Article 123: Relates to the President's power to promulgate ordinances during recess of Parliament.
- Article 121: Deals with restrictions on discussion in Parliament regarding the conduct of judges.
- Article 119: Deals with regulation by law of procedure in Parliament in relation to financial business.

Theeyattu (also known as Theyyam or Theeyattu ) is a traditional solo ritualistic dance-drama form from Kerala. It is performed in the northern regions of Kerala, particularly Malabar. The performer embodies a deity or spirit and enacts divine stories through elaborate costumes, makeup, and dramatic movements. It has been recognized by UNESCO.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Nagaland: Known for its own traditional dances like War Dance and Hornbill festival performances; not Theeyattu .
- Telangana: Has its own folk forms like Perini; Theeyattu is not associated with it.
- Andhra Pradesh: Has traditions like Kuchipudi and Burrakatha ; Theeyattu belongs to Kerala.

Lui-Ngai-Ni is a traditional seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes in Manipur, particularly in the Senapati district. It marks the beginning of the agricultural season and is celebrated with traditional songs, dances, and rituals. The festival promotes unity among various Naga tribes.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Goa: Known for festivals like Carnival and Shigmo ; Lui-Ngai-Ni is not associated with Goa.
- Assam: Has its own prominent festivals like Bihu; Lui-Ngai-Ni is a Manipur-based Naga festival.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Though home to many tribes, Lui-Ngai-Ni is specifically celebrated in Manipur.

The Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) was initiated by George Abraham Grierson in 1894. Commissioned by the British Indian government, it was an ambitious project to document and classify the languages of India. The survey was completed in 1928 and published in 19 volumes covering hundreds of languages and dialects.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1814: No organised linguistic survey of India was launched in 1814.
- 1824: Predates Grierson's survey; no such formal linguistic survey was launched then.
- 1914: The survey was already underway by 1914; it was initiated in 1894.

The Department of Space (DOS) was established in India in 1972 by the Government of India to bring the space activities of the country under a coordinated structure. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) functions under the DOS. The Prime Minister of India serves as the Minister of Space.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1961: INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research), the precursor to ISRO, was established in 1962; DOS came later in 1972.
- 1984: By 1984, the DOS had already been functioning for over a decade.
- 1998: This is well after the establishment of DOS.

Both statements are correct regarding Toda:
Statement I: Toda is indeed classified as an endangered language by UNESCO. It is spoken by the Toda tribe living in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, with fewer than 2,000 speakers.
Statement II: Toda belongs to the South Dravidian branch of the Dravidian language family and is considered a proto-South-Dravidian language, sharing ancient features with Tamil, Kannada, and related languages.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Only I: Statement II is also correct, so 'Only I' is incomplete.
- Only II: Statement I is also correct, so 'Only II' is incomplete.
- Neither I nor II: Both statements are verified facts about the Toda language.

The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Secretariat was established in Kathmandu, Nepal on 17 January 1987. The Secretariat coordinates and monitors the implementation of SAARC activities and serves as the administrative centre of the regional grouping comprising eight South Asian nations.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Dhaka: Bangladesh's capital was the site of the first SAARC Summit (1985), not the secretariat.
- New Delhi: India's capital is home to many international organisations, but the SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu.
- Thimphu: Bhutan's capital; not the location of the SAARC Secretariat.

'The Painter of Signs' (1976) is a novel by R.K. Narayan, set in his fictional south Indian town of Malgudi. The story follows Raman, a sign painter, who falls in love with Daisy, a passionate family planning worker. It explores themes of love, tradition, and modernity in post-independence India.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Jeet Thayil: A contemporary Indian poet and author known for ' Narcopolis '; not the author of this book.
- Jhumpa Lahiri: An Indian-American author known for 'The Namesake' and 'Interpreter of Maladies'; not the author of this work.
- Vikram Chandra: Known for 'Sacred Games' and 'Red Earth and Pouring Rain'; not the author of 'The Painter of Signs'.

FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) is the international governing body for the sport of basketball. Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Mies, Switzerland, FIBA formulates and enforces the official rules of basketball worldwide, including for the Olympic Games and FIBA World Cup.
Why other options are incorrect:
- IFBA: No such internationally recognised basketball governing body exists.
- FIBB: Not a real governing body for basketball.
- FIAB: Not a recognised international basketball authority.

Free style wrestling is a recognised Olympic and internationally sanctioned type of wrestling. The three Olympic wrestling disciplines are: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women's Freestyle.
Indo-Roman is NOT a recognised type of wrestling. The correct term is Greco-Roman wrestling. Therefore, only Statement II (Free style) is a valid type of wrestling.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Only I: Indo-Roman is not a recognised wrestling style; the correct name is Greco-Roman.
- Both I and II: Statement I is incorrect as 'Indo-Roman' does not exist as a wrestling discipline.
- Neither I nor II: Statement II (Free style) is a valid and recognised type of wrestling.

Yang (also called Yangchen or Yang chanting) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastic music tradition associated with Ladakh. It involves deep, resonant sacred chanting by monks accompanied by specific drumbeats and ritual instruments. This tradition is practised in the monasteries of Ladakh as part of religious ceremonies and is a UNESCO recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kerala: Known for Theyyam , Kathakali, and Sopana music; Yang chanting is not associated with Kerala.
- Goa: Known for Goan folk music and Konkani traditions; Yang is not from Goa.
- Gujarat: Known for Garba and Bhavai ; the Yang monastic tradition is specific to Ladakh.

In September 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the first mpox vaccine (LC16m8, manufactured by KM Biologics of Japan) for emergency use to help combat the mpox outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries. This approval was part of WHO's emergency use listing process to accelerate access to the vaccine.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Doctors Without Borders: An NGO providing medical aid; it does not approve vaccines.
- International Red Cross: A humanitarian organisation; it does not have authority to approve vaccines.
- International Society for Infectious Diseases: A scientific society; vaccine approval authority rests with WHO.

Womesh Chandra Banerjee (also written as W.C. Bonnerjee) was the first President of the Indian National Congress (INC), elected at the inaugural session held in Bombay (Mumbai) in December 1885. The INC was founded by A.O. Hume with the aim of obtaining greater civil rights for Indians under British rule.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Gadar Party: Founded in 1913 by Lala Har Dayal in the USA; W.C. Banerjee was not associated with it.
- Swaraj Party: Founded in 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru; W.C. Banerjee predates this party.
- Indian National Army: Formed during World War II; W.C. Banerjee was a 19th-century figure with no connection to the INA.