SSC MTS 2025 16 February 2026 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Prithviraj III (Prithviraj Chahamana ) was defeated by Sultan Muhammad Ghori at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192. In the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Prithviraj had defeated Ghori, but in the decisive rematch in 1192, Ghori emerged victorious, ending Rajput dominance in northern India and establishing the foundation for the Delhi Sultanate.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1190: No significant battle between Prithviraj and Ghori occurred in this year.
- 1194: This was the year of the Battle of Chandawar ; Prithviraj had already been defeated in 1192.
- 1196: Prithviraj was already dead by this time.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, placed the highest emphasis on the worship of one God (Ik Onkar — 'One God'). He preached monotheism, devotion to a single formless God, equality of all human beings, and rejection of caste distinctions, rituals, and idol worship.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Worship of multiple gods: Guru Nanak strongly opposed polytheism and preached strict monotheism.
- Attainment of material wealth: Guru Nanak taught renunciation of ego and material attachment (maya), not its pursuit.
- Worship of idols: Guru Nanak rejected idol worship as a path to God.

The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948 divided industries into 4 categories:
1. Industries exclusively under state ownership (e.g., arms, atomic energy, railways).
2. Industries where the state would establish new enterprises but private sector could continue (e.g., coal, steel, aircraft).
3. Industries subject to government regulation and control.
4. All remaining industries under private enterprise with state oversight.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 8: Incorrect; the 1948 IPR specified 4 categories, not 8.
- 6: Incorrect; there were 4 categories, not 6.
- 2: Incorrect; the classification was more detailed, covering 4 categories.

On January 24, 1976, Bharat Refineries Limited (later renamed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited/BPCL) acquired complete ownership of Burmah Shell's operations in India. This was part of India's nationalisation of oil companies in the 1970s. The company was established under the Burmah Shell (Acquisition of Undertakings in India) Act, 1976.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 1984: Incorrect; the acquisition took place in 1976, not 1984.
- 1978: Incorrect; the acquisition had already occurred two years earlier.
- 1980: Incorrect; Burmah Shell's acquisition was completed in 1976.

During the 1991 economic crisis, international agencies like the IMF and World Bank imposed structural adjustment conditions on India, which included: liberalisation (removing private sector restrictions), privatisation (reducing government role), and globalisation (removing trade barriers). Opening new public enterprises in the consumer goods sector was NOT a condition — in fact, the opposite was required: reducing state intervention and supporting privatisation.
Why other options are incorrect:
- To liberalise the economy: This WAS a condition imposed — removing restrictions on private enterprise.
- To reduce the role of government: This WAS a condition — privatisation and disinvestment.
- To remove trade restrictions: This WAS a condition — dismantling import controls and tariff barriers.

Nominal GDP is calculated at current prevailing market prices — it measures the monetary value of all goods and services produced in a country during a specific period at the prices that prevailed during that period. It does not adjust for inflation. In contrast, Real GDP is calculated at constant prices (base year prices) to remove the effect of inflation.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Constant set of prices: This describes Real GDP, not Nominal GDP.
- Prices fixed by the Reserve Bank of India: The RBI does not fix prices for GDP calculation; it regulates monetary policy.
- Prices fixed by the World Bank: GDP is calculated using market prices, not prices set by the World Bank.

Statement (d) is INCORRECT: A rise in the price of foreign exchange actually INCREASES the cost of purchasing foreign goods, not decreases it. If the exchange rate rises (domestic currency depreciates), you need more domestic currency to buy the same amount of foreign currency, making imports more expensive.
Why other options are correct (not the answer):
- 'It is the price of one currency in terms of another' — This is the correct definition of an exchange rate.
- 'It enables comparison of international costs and prices' — True; exchange rates allow comparison of prices across currencies.
- 'People demand foreign exchange to purchase goods/services from other countries' — True; this is one of the primary reasons for foreign exchange demand.

India's GDP crossed the 2 trillion US dollar mark in 2014, making it the 10th largest economy in the world at that time. This milestone reflected India's rapid economic growth driven by the services sector, manufacturing, and a large consumer market.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 2012: India's GDP was approximately 1.8 trillion dollars in 2012, still below the 2 trillion mark.
- 2016: By 2016, India's GDP had already grown well beyond 2 trillion dollars.
- 2018: Correct milestone year for India crossing 2.7 trillion, but the 2 trillion mark was crossed earlier in 2014.

Mahapadma Nanda, the founder of the Nanda dynasty, significantly expanded the Magadhan empire. He conquered Kalinga (modern-day Odisha) and added it to Magadha, as recorded in the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela . This conquest was of great historical significance as Kalinga later became the site of Ashoka's famous war of remorse.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kaveripattinam : An ancient port city in the far south; it was not conquered by Mahapadma Nanda.
- Taxila: Located in the northwest (modern Pakistan); while the Nanda empire was large, Taxila is not specifically attributed to Mahapadma Nanda's conquest.
- Ujjain: Was part of the Avanti kingdom; its specific annexation by Mahapadma Nanda is debated and not as clearly documented as Kalinga.

Syadvada (also known as Anekantavada ) is the Jain philosophical doctrine of conditional predication and non-absolutism. Its main aim is to acknowledge that truth and reality are complex and multifaceted, and that any single statement about reality is only conditionally true from a particular perspective. The word ' syat ' means 'maybe' or 'perhaps', emphasising the conditionality of all assertions.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Promote ritual sacrifices: Jainism, especially Syadvada , emphasises non-violence (ahimsa) and opposes ritual sacrifices.
- Emphasize strict fundamentalism: Syadvada is about open-minded pluralism, not dogmatic fundamentalism.
- Deny all forms of reality: Syadvada does not deny reality; rather, it recognises the relative nature of truth.

The large intestine (colon) is responsible for absorbing the most water from the undigested food residue (chyme) that passes through from the small intestine. As food matter moves through the colon, water is absorbed back into the body, converting liquid waste into semi-solid faeces.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Stomach: The stomach primarily performs mechanical and chemical digestion; it absorbs very little water.
- Liver: The liver produces bile and performs metabolic functions; it is not part of the absorption pathway for water from food.
- Small intestine: While the small intestine does absorb some water (along with nutrients), the large intestine is specifically known for reabsorbing the bulk of the remaining water from unabsorbed food.

Deficiency of growth hormone (GH) — produced by the anterior pituitary gland — in childhood results in Dwarfism (also known as pituitary dwarfism). The child fails to grow at a normal rate, resulting in short stature and proportionate but underdeveloped body.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Goitre: Caused by iodine deficiency or thyroid gland dysfunction; not related to growth hormone.
- Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid gland condition; not caused by growth hormone deficiency.
- Scurvy: Caused by deficiency of Vitamin C; not related to growth hormone.

Iron (Fe) is a micronutrient required by crops in very small (trace) quantities. It is essential for chlorophyll synthesis and enzyme activity in plants. Micronutrients include: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron, Molybdenum, and Chlorine.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Nitrogen (N): A primary macronutrient required in large quantities for leaf and shoot growth.
- Magnesium (Mg): A secondary macronutrient (not a micronutrient), essential for chlorophyll production and enzyme activation.
- Sulphur (S): A secondary macronutrient needed for protein synthesis and enzyme function; not a micronutrient.

Dosmoche (also spelled Dosmochey) is an important Tibetan Buddhist festival celebrated primarily in Ladakh, particularly at the Leh Palace and Diskit Monastery. It is a two-day festival held in the 11th month of the Tibetan calendar and involves elaborate masked dances (Cham) to ward off evil spirits and ensure prosperity.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kerala: Has its own rich festival traditions like Onam and Thrissur Pooram; Dosmoche is not associated with Kerala.
- Tamil Nadu: A predominantly Hindu state with festivals like Pongal and Karthigai Deepam ; Dosmoche does not belong here.
- Goa: Known for Carnival, Shigmo , and Diwali; Dosmoche is specific to the Buddhist culture of Ladakh.

Chhopati (also called Chhopta or Chopati ) folk songs are a traditional folk music form from Uttarakhand. They are sung during festivals, agricultural activities, and social gatherings, reflecting the cultural heritage of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the state.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Manipur: Known for classical Manipuri dance and folk forms like Lai Haraoba; Chhopati is not associated with Manipur.
- Jharkhand: Has its own tribal folk traditions like Jhumar and Paika ; Chhopati belongs to Uttarakhand.
- West Bengal: Known for Baul music, Kirtan, and other forms; Chhopati is not a West Bengal tradition.

'The Village' (1939) is a novel by Mulk Raj Anand, the first volume of his Lalu trilogy. The novel follows Lalu, a young Punjabi peasant, through his village life. Mulk Raj Anand was a pioneering Indian English novelist known for highlighting social injustices, poverty, and caste discrimination. His other famous works include 'Untouchable' and 'Coolie'.
Why other options are incorrect:
- R. K. Narayan: A celebrated Indian author known for Malgudi-set stories like 'The Guide'; he did not write 'The Village'.
- Sudeep Nagarkar: A contemporary Indian author known for romantic fiction; 'The Village' is not his work.
- Prayaag Akbar: A contemporary author known for 'Leila'; not associated with 'The Village'.

The Ranakpur Jain Temple, one of the most beautiful and important Jain temples, is located in Pali district of Rajasthan and sits on the banks of the Maghai River (also known as Maghi River), a small seasonal river in the Aravalli foothills. The temple is famous for its 1,444 intricately carved marble pillars, no two of which are identical.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Krishna: The Krishna River flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh; not near Ranakpur .
- Yamuna: The Yamuna flows through northern India (Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, etc.); not associated with Ranakpur .
- Mahanadi: Flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha; far from Rajasthan.

In its overall structure, dhrupad has 2 main parts: (1) the Alap (also known as Nom-Tom), which is an extended improvisatory introduction, and (2) the Dhrupad proper (the bandish /composition). The dhrupad proper (the song/composition itself) is structured in 4 parts: Sthayi (the refrain), Antara (the first variation), Sanchari (development), and Abhog (the conclusion).
Why other options are incorrect:
- 5, 4: Dhrupad does not have 5 main structural parts; the overall structure has 2 main divisions.
- 6, 8: Neither the overall structure (6) nor the song parts (8) are correct for dhrupad.
- 8, 8: Incorrect on both counts; dhrupad has 2 structural parts and the song has 4 sections.

The English Education Act of 1835 was passed based on Thomas Babington Macaulay's famous 'Minute on Indian Education' (February 2, 1835). Macaulay argued for promoting English as the medium of instruction in India over Sanskrit and Arabic. His minute strongly influenced Governor-General Lord William Bentinck's decision to replace Oriental learning with Western education.
Why other options are incorrect:
- James Mill: A historian and political economist who wrote 'The History of British India'; he did not author the minute that led to the 1835 Act.
- Henry Thomas Colebrooke: An Orientalist and Sanskrit scholar who favoured traditional Indian learning, not English education.
- William Jones: Founder of the Asiatic Society; he promoted Oriental learning and would have opposed Macaulay's view.

Mahatma Gandhi coined the term 'Harijan' (meaning 'children of Hari/God') for the untouchables as an alternative to more derogatory terms. He used this term to emphasise their dignity and worth as human beings, and worked for their social upliftment. The term appeared prominently in his newspaper 'Harijan', started in 1933.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Baba Amte: A social activist who worked for leprosy patients; not the one who coined the term Harijan.
- B.R. Ambedkar: Himself from the untouchable community, he actually criticised Gandhi's use of 'Harijan' as paternalistic. Ambedkar preferred the term 'Dalit'.
- Kandukuri Veeresalingam : A 19th-century Telugu social reformer; he is not associated with the term Harijan.

The SI (International System of Units) unit of work is the joule (J). Work is defined as the product of force and displacement in the direction of force: W = F × d. One joule equals the work done when a force of one newton moves an object one metre in the direction of force.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Weber (Wb): The SI unit of magnetic flux, not work.
- Tesla (T): The SI unit of magnetic field strength (magnetic flux density), not work.
- Coulomb (C): The SI unit of electric charge, not work.

Microsoft developed the generative AI model called Muse in February 2025. Muse is a large-scale generative AI model designed for video game development, capable of generating gameplay visuals and game states. It was developed in collaboration with Xbox and represents a significant step in applying AI to interactive entertainment.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Sony: A major gaming and electronics company; Sony did not develop the Muse AI model.
- Google: Develops AI models like Gemini; Muse is not a Google product.
- Nintendo: A Japanese gaming company known for Mario and Zelda; it did not develop the Muse AI model.

IIT Roorkee researchers developed an innovative method in January 2025 using bacterial enzymes to biodegrade plasticizers — chemical additives used in plastics like PVC. This breakthrough addresses the problem of environmental contamination from plasticizer compounds that are resistant to conventional degradation.
Why other options are incorrect:
- IIT Delhi: A leading research institution, but this specific plasticizer degradation study was from IIT Roorkee.
- IIT Madras: Known for various innovations, but this particular research was attributed to IIT Roorkee.
- IIT Guwahati: A prominent IIT but not associated with this specific January 2025 research on plasticizer degradation.

Sugarcane is a plantation crop — it is grown on large estates (plantations) for commercial purposes, requires large capital investment, and is processed in nearby factories (sugar mills). Other plantation crops include tea, coffee, rubber, and tobacco.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Rice: A food grain (Kharif crop) grown widely by small farmers; it is not a plantation crop.
- Wheat: A food grain (Rabi crop) grown extensively; not a plantation crop.
- Jowar: A coarse cereal (Kharif crop) grown as food and fodder; not a plantation crop.

Both topographical and hydrological challenges constrain surface water utilisation in India:
I. Topographical challenge: Many rivers flow through difficult terrain (mountains, gorges, remote areas), making it expensive and technically difficult to build dams or divert water.
II. Hydrological challenge: India's rivers exhibit extreme seasonal variation — floods in monsoon and near-dryness in summer — making year-round reliable utilisation difficult.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Only I: The hydrological challenge is equally significant and cannot be ignored.
- Only II: Topographical constraints are a well-documented issue in Indian water management.
- Neither I nor II: Both challenges are widely recognised in Indian water resource literature.