SSC MTS 2025 18 February 2026 Shift 2 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

The correct answer is option 4.
Nehru rejected the Soviet model primarily because it required complete state ownership of all means of production — all factories and farms were owned by the government, leaving no room for private enterprise. Nehru instead favoured a mixed economy where both public and private sectors could coexist.
Option 1 is incorrect: Nehru promoted centralised planning through the Planning Commission; decentralisation was not his stated reason for rejecting the Soviet model.
Option 2 is incorrect: The Soviet model deliberately excluded private players; allowing some private enterprise was a preference Nehru had, but it was not the main reason he rejected this model.
Option 3 is incorrect: The Soviet model heavily prioritised industrial production and was not based solely on agriculture.

The correct answer is option 1.
The foreign exchange rate (forex rate) is the price at which one country's currency can be exchanged for another. For example, 1 USD = 83 INR is a foreign exchange rate. It is determined by supply and demand in the global foreign exchange market.
Option 2 is incorrect: The interest rate charged by public banks refers to lending or bank rates — domestic monetary policy instruments, not foreign exchange rates.
Option 3 is incorrect: The cost of imported goods refers to import prices, which are influenced by exchange rates but are not the same as the exchange rate itself.
Option 4 is incorrect: The IMF charges interest on loans to member countries; this is unrelated to the concept of foreign exchange rate.

The correct answer is option 2.
Timur (Tamerlane), the Central Asian conqueror, invaded India and captured Delhi in 1398 during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Tughlaq of the Tughlaq dynasty. The invasion caused massive destruction and looting, and led to the weakening of the Delhi Sultanate.
Option 1 is incorrect: 1352 has no historical significance related to Timur's invasion of India.
Option 3 is incorrect: 1410 was after Timur's invasion; the Sayyid dynasty was emerging in Delhi by then.
Option 4 is incorrect: 1427 was during the Sayyid dynasty period, nearly three decades after Timur's invasion.

The correct answer is option 3.
Ramanuja (11th–12th century CE), the great Vaishnava philosopher-theologian who propounded Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), was deeply influenced by the Alvars — the Tamil Vaishnava saint-poets who composed devotional hymns ( Nalayira Divya Prabandham) in praise of Lord Vishnu. Their Bhakti tradition directly shaped Ramanuja's spiritual thought.
Option 1 is incorrect: Digambara is a sect of Jainism and has no connection to Ramanuja's Vaishnava tradition.
Option 2 is incorrect: Mahayana is a school of Buddhism; Ramanuja was a Hindu Vaishnava philosopher.
Option 4 is incorrect: Nayanars were Tamil Shaiva saints devoted to Lord Shiva and influenced Shaiva tradition, not Ramanuja's Vaishnava philosophy.

The correct answer is option 1.
The first step in photosynthesis is the absorption of light energy by the green pigment chlorophyll present in the chloroplasts. This absorbed energy initiates the light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes.
Option 2 is incorrect: Conversion of light energy to chemical energy is the next step that follows absorption; it cannot occur without light being captured first.
Option 3 is incorrect: Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates (glucose) occurs in the Calvin cycle (dark/light-independent reactions), a later stage of photosynthesis.
Option 4 is incorrect: Photolysis (splitting of water) also occurs in the light reactions, but it is triggered after the initial absorption of light by chlorophyll.

The correct answer is option 4.
As energy flows through trophic levels in a food chain, approximately 90% of energy is lost to the environment as heat at each level (Lindeman's 10% rule). Only about 10% of the energy is transferred to the next trophic level. This is why food chains are typically short (3–4 levels) and why the number of organisms decreases at higher trophic levels.
Option 1 is incorrect: Energy cannot be completely converted to chemical energy; a large proportion is always lost as heat through metabolic activities.
Option 2 is incorrect: Organisms use only a fraction of the energy available; most is dissipated as heat, not fully utilised .
Option 3 is incorrect: Energy is never stored indefinitely across trophic levels; it continuously decreases, which is why energy pyramids taper towards the top.

The correct answer is option 4.
Ribosomes are the cellular organelles responsible for protein synthesis (translation). They read the messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence and assemble the corresponding chain of amino acids to form proteins. Ribosomes can be free in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Option 1 is incorrect: Lysosomes are the cell's digestive organelles; they contain hydrolytic enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris — they do not manufacture proteins.
Option 2 is incorrect: The nuclear envelope is the double membrane surrounding the nucleus; its function is to regulate movement of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Option 3 is incorrect: The plasma membrane is the outer boundary of the cell and controls transport of substances into and out of the cell; it is not involved in protein synthesis.

The correct answer is option 4.
Bhimbetka is located in the Vindhya Range near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing prehistoric rock shelters and cave paintings dating to the Mesolithic period (and earlier). The paintings depict hunting, dancing, animals, and scenes of early human life.
Option 1 is incorrect: Odisha has prehistoric sites but not the Bhimbetka rock shelters.
Option 2 is incorrect: Gujarat has significant Harappan sites but not Bhimbetka.
Option 3 is incorrect: Maharashtra has notable archaeological sites but Bhimbetka is located in Madhya Pradesh.

The correct answer is option 3.
Alamgirpur is located in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered the easternmost known site of the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilisation , showing evidence of a late Harappan phase and marking the civilisation's eastern extent.
Option 1 is incorrect: Haryana has prominent Harappan sites like Rakhigarhi , Banawali , and Bhirrana , but not Alamgirpur .
Option 2 is incorrect: Rajasthan has Kalibangan as a major Harappan site, but Alamgirpur is in Uttar Pradesh.
Option 4 is incorrect: Punjab has Harappan associations but Alamgirpur is specifically located in Uttar Pradesh.

The correct answer is option 1.
Yakshagana is a traditional theatre art form that originated in coastal Karnataka and the Malnad region. It combines dance, music, dialogue, elaborate costumes, and make-up, performed as a night-long narrative based on Hindu epics and Puranas. It is one of Karnataka's most important cultural expressions.
Option 2 is incorrect: Tripura is known for Garia Nritya and Hojagiri folk dances.
Option 3 is incorrect: Punjab is famous for Bhangra and Giddha .
Option 4 is incorrect: Jammu & Kashmir is known for Rouf, Bhand Pather, and Dumhal dance forms.

The correct answer is option 1.
Kaakda Nritya is a traditional folk ritual/dance performed in Gujarat to appease the goddess (associated with Sheetala Mata) for protection against pox (smallpox/chickenpox). It is a devotional folk tradition unique to the Gujarat region.
Option 2 is incorrect: Karnataka's folk dances include Dollu Kunitha , Suggi Kunitha, and Veeragase ; none are specifically associated with this ritual.
Option 3 is incorrect: Sikkim is known for Cham (mask dance) and Maruni dance; Kaakda Nritya is not associated with Sikkim.
Option 4 is incorrect: West Bengal is known for Chhau , Baul, and Gambhira; Kaakda Nritya does not belong to West Bengal.

The correct answer is option 3.
The Hornbill Festival is held annually from December 1 to 10 at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, Nagaland. Organised by the Nagaland government, it showcases the rich cultural heritage of all Naga tribes. The festival is named after the Indian Hornbill bird, which is prominent in Naga tribal folklore and headgear.
Option 1 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh has its own cultural festivals but not the Hornbill Festival.
Option 2 is incorrect: West Bengal's major festivals include Durga Puja and Dol Jatra ; the Hornbill Festival belongs to Nagaland.
Option 4 is incorrect: Jammu & Kashmir is known for the Hemis Festival but not the Hornbill Festival.

The correct answer is option 3.
In Sikkim and among the Nepali-speaking communities, Diwali is celebrated as 'Tihar' — a five-day festival of lights. It coincides with the Hindu festival of Diwali and includes the worship of crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and brothers (Bhai Tika). It is one of the most important festivals in Sikkim.
Option 1 is incorrect: Eid is an Islamic festival and is not called 'Tihar' anywhere.
Option 2 is incorrect: Holi is the festival of colours ; it is not known as 'Tihar'.
Option 4 is incorrect: Christmas is a Christian festival and has no connection to the name 'Tihar'.

The correct answer is option 2.
Raga Bilaval (also spelled Bilawal) is named after Veraval, a coastal town in Gujarat. It is one of the ten fundamental parent ragas ( Thaats ) in Hindustani classical music and has its traditional origins linked to the Gujarat region.
Option 1 is incorrect: Kerala follows the Carnatic classical music tradition and is not associated with Raga Bilaval.
Option 3 is incorrect: Sikkim does not have a historical connection to Raga Bilaval or the town of Veraval.
Option 4 is incorrect: Uttar Pradesh is a major centre of Hindustani classical music, but Raga Bilaval is specifically named after Veraval in Gujarat.

The correct answer is option 4.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote 'Vande Mataram ' in 1876. The song was first published as part of his Bengali novel Anandamath (1882) and became the rallying anthem of the Indian independence movement. It was adopted as India's National Song.
Option 1 is incorrect: Devendranath Tagore was a Brahmo Samaj reformer and father of Rabindranath Tagore; he did not write Vande Mataram .
Option 2 is incorrect: Sri Aurobindo strongly championed Vande Mataram as a freedom fighter and philosopher, but he did not write it.
Option 3 is incorrect: Shyamlal Gupta Parshad wrote 'Vijay Vishwa Tiranga Pyara' (the national flag song), not Vande Mataram .

The correct answer is option 1.
'Delhi: A Novel' was written by Khushwant Singh, the celebrated Indian journalist and author. Published in 1990, it is a sweeping historical novel that traces the history of Delhi across centuries through the eyes of an old Punjabi narrator and his encounters with a Muslim courtesan.
Option 2 is incorrect: Shobhaa De is known for 'Socialite Evenings' and 'Starry Nights'; she did not write 'Delhi: A Novel'.
Option 3 is incorrect: Githa Hariharan is known for 'The Thousand Faces of Night'; she did not write this novel.
Option 4 is incorrect: Manju Kapur is known for 'Difficult Daughters' and 'A Married Woman'; she did not write 'Delhi: A Novel'.

The correct answer is option 4.
Nayantara Sahgal, a noted Indian English novelist and Indira Gandhi's first cousin, wrote 'Indira Gandhi: Tryst with Power' (1982). The book offers a critical analysis of Indira Gandhi's political life from a perspective of close personal acquaintance combined with independent political judgement.
Option 1 is incorrect: Inder Malhotra, a veteran journalist, wrote a different biography titled 'Indira Gandhi: A Personal and Political Biography'.
Option 2 is incorrect: Pupul Jayakar, a close friend of Indira Gandhi, wrote 'Indira Gandhi: An Intimate Biography'.
Option 3 is incorrect: Shashi Tharoor has written many books on Indian history and politics but did not write this specific biography.

The correct answer is option 1.
Golconda Fort is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. Built and expanded by the Qutb Shahi dynasty, it was the capital of the Golconda Sultanate. It is historically famous as a centre of the diamond trade — the legendary Kohinoor diamond is believed to have originated from mines in this region.
Option 2 is incorrect: Chennai (formerly Madras) has Fort St. George, not Golconda Fort.
Option 3 is incorrect: Mumbai has Bandra Fort and Sion Fort among others, but not Golconda.
Option 4 is incorrect: Gandhinagar is the capital of Gujarat and has no connection to Golconda Fort.

The correct answer is option 3.
Deogiri (also known as Devagiri; modern-day Daulatabad near Aurangabad, Maharashtra) was the capital of the Yadava dynasty during the medieval period. South Indian classical music is said to have flourished under Yadava patronage at Deogiri , making it an important centre for the development of classical music traditions.
Option 1 is incorrect: Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, not the Yadavas. It was a great cultural centre but is not specifically linked to the Yadava patronage of South Indian music.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kaveripattinam (Puhar) was an ancient Chola port city in Tamil Nadu, not the Yadava capital.
Option 4 is incorrect: Bidar was the capital of the Bahmani Sultanate and later the Barid Shahi dynasty, not the Yadavas.

The correct answer is option 3.
In 1765, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani (revenue collection rights) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company. Robert Clive, the Governor of Bengal at that time, accepted it on behalf of the Company. This event gave the Company financial control over a large part of India and marked a decisive shift in British power in India.
Option 1 is incorrect: Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal in 1773; he was not the one who received the Diwani in 1765.
Option 2 is incorrect: Cornwallis served as Governor-General from 1786–1793, more than two decades after the Diwani grant.
Option 4 is incorrect: Wellesley served as Governor-General from 1798–1805, long after the Diwani was granted.

The correct answer is option 3.
The Portuguese, under Afonso de Albuquerque, captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate in 1510, marking the establishment of European (Portuguese) presence in Goa, including the port town of Panaji (Panjim). Portuguese rule in Goa lasted until India's liberation of the territory in 1961.
Option 1 is incorrect: 1490 predates even Vasco da Gama's first arrival in India (1498); the Portuguese had not yet established themselves anywhere in India by 1490.
Option 2 is incorrect: 1650 is far too late — Portuguese rule in Goa had already been established for over 140 years by then.
Option 4 is incorrect: 1707 is the year of Aurangzeb's death; the Portuguese had been in Goa for nearly two centuries by then.

The correct answer is option 3.
In the Lok Sabha, 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) as per the Delimitation Commission provisions. These reserved constituencies ensure adequate political representation for tribal communities in Parliament.
Option 1 is incorrect: 54 does not correspond to the number of ST-reserved seats in Lok Sabha.
Option 2 is incorrect: 56 is not the correct figure for ST reserved seats.
Option 4 is incorrect: 84 is the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Lok Sabha, not for Scheduled Tribes.

The correct answer is option 3.
The prolonged rolling sound of thunder is caused by successive reflections of sound waves from multiple surfaces — such as clouds, mountains, and the ground. The original sound reaches the listener at different time intervals after bouncing off these various surfaces, creating a continuous rumbling effect rather than a single sharp bang.
Option 1 is incorrect: A single reflection would produce one sharp echo, not a prolonged rolling sound.
Option 2 is incorrect: Clouds do absorb some sound energy, but absorption does not explain the rolling or prolonged nature of thunder.
Option 4 is incorrect: Scattering of light waves is an optical phenomenon related to sky colour ; it has no connection to the sound of thunder.

The correct answer is option 1.
As per India's land use classification, 'Culturable Wasteland' refers to land available for cultivation but not used for agriculture for more than five years. It includes degraded, barren, and uncultivated land that can potentially be reclaimed.
Option 2 is incorrect: Land left fallow for less than one year is classified as 'Current Fallows'.
Option 3 is incorrect: Land left uncultivated for 1 to 5 years falls under the 'Other Fallows' category.
Option 4 is incorrect: Land fallow for less than three years also falls under 'Other Fallows', not culturable wasteland.

The correct answer is option 3.
Petroleum (crude oil) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. On fractional distillation, it yields several useful products at different temperature ranges. Diesel (a medium-weight fuel fraction) and Paraffin wax (obtained from the heavier fractions) are both well-established products/constituents of petroleum refining.
Option 1 is incorrect: While Diesel is indeed a petroleum product, Paraffin wax is equally a petroleum product; 'Only I' is incomplete.
Option 2 is incorrect: While Paraffin wax is a petroleum product, Diesel is equally so; 'Only II' is incomplete.
Option 4 is incorrect: Both Diesel and Paraffin wax are universally recognised petroleum products; stating that neither is a constituent is factually wrong.