SSC MTS 2025 19 February 2026 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

The correct answer is option 1.
The Gwalior Prashasti (inscription) found in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is written in Sanskrit. It describes the exploits of Nagabhata II of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Sanskrit was the predominant language used for royal inscriptions, prashastis, and official records during the medieval period in India.
Option 2 is incorrect: Prakrit was used primarily in Mauryan-era edicts (like Ashokan inscriptions) and Buddhist/Jain texts, not in Pratihara-era prashastis.
Option 3 is incorrect: Kharosthi script was mainly used in the northwestern region and declined after the 4th century CE; it was not used for Pratihara-era inscriptions.
Option 4 is incorrect: Brahmi was an ancient script and the predecessor of most Indian scripts; it was not used directly in medieval Pratihara-era inscriptions.

The correct answer is option 4.
Jayadeva was a 12th-century Sanskrit poet from Bengal (Odisha/Bengal region) who composed the famous Gita Govinda — a lyrical poem describing the love between Radha and Lord Krishna. It is one of the most celebrated works in Sanskrit literature and is an important text in the Vaishnavism tradition.
Option 1 is incorrect: Mahabhashya (Great Commentary on Panini's grammar) was written by Patanjali, not Jayadeva.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kirtan-Ghosha was composed by Shankardeva of Assam, not Jayadeva.
Option 3 is incorrect: Surya Siddhanta is an ancient Sanskrit astronomical treatise; it was not composed by Jayadeva.

The correct answer is option 1.
Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd., originally a British managing agency house established in 1863 in Calcutta, became a public sector enterprise in 1979 when the Government of India took it over. It is now under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and is headquartered in Kolkata.
Option 2 is incorrect: 1989 is not the year of its nationalization.
Option 3 is incorrect: 1991 is associated with India's economic liberalization reforms, not the nationalization of Andrew Yule.
Option 4 is incorrect: 1959 predates the actual government takeover of the company.

The correct answer is option 2.
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893–1972) was born in Calcutta and is widely regarded as the architect of Indian statistical planning. He founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata and was the chief architect of India's Second Five Year Plan (1956–61), which emphasized rapid industrialization. He is also famous for the Mahalanobis Distance in statistics.
Option 1 is incorrect: K. Kamraj was a Tamil Nadu political leader and Congress president; he was not born in Calcutta and was not involved in economic planning.
Option 3 is incorrect: R.C. Bose was an eminent mathematician and statistician, but he was not the architect of Indian Planning.
Option 4 is incorrect: K.R. Nair is not associated with Indian Planning.

The correct answer is option 3.
Capital receipts of the government are classified as debt-creating and non-debt creating.
Non-debt creating capital receipts do not increase the government's liabilities:
I. Recovery of loans — when the government recovers loans it had earlier given to states or others, it receives money without incurring any new debt. This is non-debt creating.
II. Proceeds from the sale of public sector units (disinvestment) — selling government assets generates receipts without creating any new borrowing or debt obligation. This is also non-debt creating.
Both I and II are correct examples of non-debt creating capital receipts.
Option 1 is incorrect: Only I would exclude disinvestment proceeds, which is also a non-debt creating receipt.
Option 2 is incorrect: Only II would exclude loan recovery, which is also non-debt creating.
Option 4 is incorrect: Both statements are valid non-debt creating capital receipts.

The correct answer is option 1.
The Balance of Payments (BoP) is a systematic record of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world. It is typically prepared for one year (one accounting period). The BoP consists of the Current Account, Capital Account, and Financial Account, recording all monetary flows in and out of a country over the period of one year.
Option 2 is incorrect: The BoP covers one year, not two years at a time.
Option 3 is incorrect: Five years corresponds to the duration of India's Five Year Plans, not the BoP period.
Option 4 is incorrect: Six years is not the standard period for BoP recording.

The correct answer is option 3.
The Khetri mines (Khetri Copper Complex) are located in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Harappan (Indus Valley) civilization obtained copper from these mines in Rajasthan. Khetri is one of India's most important copper-producing regions.
Option 1 is incorrect: Assam does not have significant copper mines associated with the Harappan civilization.
Option 2 is incorrect: Punjab was the core region of the Harappan civilization but copper was sourced from Rajasthan's Khetri mines, not Punjab.
Option 4 is incorrect: Maharashtra has copper deposits but the specific Khetri mines are in Rajasthan.

The correct answer is option 3.
Black soil (also known as Regur soil or Black Cotton Soil) is extremely ideal for growing cotton. It is rich in lime, iron, magnesia, and alumina; has high water-retention capacity; and becomes very sticky when wet. The Deccan Plateau region of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, which is dominated by black soil, is the major cotton-growing belt of India.
Option 1 is incorrect: Apple grows best in cool, temperate climates with well-drained soil (like hill soils of Himachal Pradesh and J&K), not in black soil regions.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kiwi requires well-drained, slightly acidic soil and cool climates; it is not grown in black soil regions.
Option 4 is incorrect: Saffron grows in a very specific climate and soil condition (Kashmir's Karewa soil), not in black cotton soil.

The correct answer is option 1.
Statement I is correct: Shale gas and shale oil are indeed defined as natural gas and oil that are trapped within shale rock formations (a type of fine-grained sedimentary rock). They are extracted through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and directional drilling.
Statement II is incorrect: Older shale wells were primarily VERTICAL, not horizontal. Modern shale extraction uses horizontal drilling technology, which was developed and became widespread in the 1990s–2000s. The shift from vertical to horizontal drilling was a key technological breakthrough that made shale gas extraction commercially viable.
Option 2 is incorrect: Statement II about horizontal wells is wrong; older wells were vertical.
Option 3 is incorrect: Both statements cannot be correct since Statement II is factually wrong.
Option 4 is incorrect: Statement I is correct.

The correct answer is option 2.
If tooth decay (dental caries) is left untreated, bacteria and microorganisms gradually erode the enamel and dentine, eventually reaching the dental pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, and its infection causes pulpitis (inflammation). This can lead to severe toothache, abscess formation, and in serious cases, spread of infection to surrounding bone and tissues.
Option 1 is incorrect: Tooth decay causes darkening and discolouration of teeth, not whitening.
Option 3 is incorrect: Extensive research clearly documents the serious consequences of untreated tooth decay.
Option 4 is incorrect: Plaque does not dissolve on its own; it hardens into tartar if not removed and continues to promote decay.

The correct answer is option 2.
Iodine is the essential mineral required by the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones. These hormones regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Deficiency of iodine leads to goitre (enlargement of thyroid gland) and hypothyroidism. Iodised salt is commonly used to prevent iodine deficiency.
Option 1 is incorrect: Calcium is essential for bone formation, muscle contraction, and nerve function — not for thyroxine production.
Option 3 is incorrect: Manganese is a trace mineral important for enzyme function and bone development, but not for thyroxine synthesis.
Option 4 is incorrect: Iron is essential for haemoglobin production and oxygen transport, not for thyroxine production.

The correct answer is option 4.
Biotic stress is caused by living organisms (biotic factors). Insects (pests) attack crops and cause damage — they are a biotic stress. Other biotic stresses include bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, and weeds.
Option 1 is incorrect: Drought is an abiotic stress caused by water deficiency — a non-living environmental factor.
Option 2 is incorrect: Salinity is an abiotic stress caused by excess salt concentration in soil or water.
Option 3 is incorrect: Cold (low temperature/frost) is an abiotic stress caused by climatic conditions, not a living organism.

The correct answer is option 2.
The use of bronze tools is NOT a feature of the Neolithic period. The Neolithic (New Stone Age) period is characterised by the use of polished stone tools, not metal tools. Bronze tools belong to the Bronze Age (also called the Chalcolithic or Copper-Bronze Age), which came after the Neolithic period.
Option 1 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: Pottery-making is indeed a defining feature of the Neolithic period — it was during this era that humans began making and using fired clay pottery.
Option 3 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: Domestication of animals (cattle, sheep, goat) is a key feature of the Neolithic period.
Option 4 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: The beginning of settled agricultural activities (cultivation of crops) is the most fundamental characteristic of the Neolithic revolution.

The correct answer is option 4.
Phulaich (also spelled Phullaich or Phulaich) is a traditional festival celebrated in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the Kinnaur and Spiti regions. It is a flower festival that marks the beginning of spring/autumn, celebrating the blooming of flowers and the onset of a new agricultural season.
Option 1 is incorrect: Assam's major festivals include Bihu; Phulaich is not associated with Assam.
Option 2 is incorrect: Puducherry's festivals are influenced by Tamil and French culture; Phulaich is not among them.
Option 3 is incorrect: Rajasthan has its own desert festival and folk fairs; Phulaich is specific to Himachal Pradesh.

The correct answer is option 2.
Neuleu (also known as Neuleu songs) is a traditional folk music tradition of Nagaland, associated with the Ao Naga tribe. These songs are performed during community gatherings and festivals, accompanied by traditional musical instruments, reflecting the rich oral tradition and cultural heritage of the Naga people.
Option 1 is incorrect: Assam's folk music traditions include Bihu songs, Borgeets, and Zikir; Neuleu is not associated with Assam.
Option 3 is incorrect: Karnataka's folk music includes Janapada Geete and Dollu Kunitha; Neuleu is not associated with Karnataka.
Option 4 is incorrect: Uttarakhand's folk music includes Jhora, Chhopati, and Barada Nati; Neuleu is not associated with Uttarakhand.

The correct answer is option 1.
HTT-40 (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40) is a basic trainer aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. It is designed to train military pilots in basic flying skills. The aircraft completed its maiden flight in 2016 and is intended to replace the ageing HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft.
Option 2 is incorrect: HTT-40 is a fixed-wing trainer aircraft, not a cargo helicopter.
Option 3 is incorrect: HTT-40 is a trainer aircraft, not a light attack aircraft. HAL's light combat aircraft is the Tejas.
Option 4 is incorrect: HTT-40 is a military trainer aircraft, not a passenger aircraft.

The correct answer is option 4.
'Angry River' is a children's novel written by Ruskin Bond, the celebrated British-Indian author. The book tells the story of a young girl named Sita who survives a catastrophic flood on the Ganga river. Ruskin Bond is known for many beloved works including 'The Room on the Roof', 'A Flight of Pigeons', and numerous short stories.
Option 1 is incorrect: Shashi Tharoor is known for political works like 'An Era of Darkness' and 'The Great Indian Novel'; he did not write 'Angry River'.
Option 2 is incorrect: R.K. Narayan is known for the Malgudi series; he did not write 'Angry River'.
Option 3 is incorrect: V.S. Naipaul is known for 'A House for Mr. Biswas' and 'An Area of Darkness'; he did not write 'Angry River'.

The correct answer is option 2.
India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, approved in January 2023, aims to achieve a targeted green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum by 2030. The mission also aims to add about 125 GW of renewable energy capacity and create over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.
Option 1 is incorrect: 2027 is not the target year for 5 MMT production capacity under this mission.
Option 3 is incorrect: 2035 is not the stated target year.
Option 4 is incorrect: 2047 is India's vision for becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat); the green hydrogen target is specifically set for 2030.

The correct answer is option 1.
Akbar's Mausoleum at Sikandra (near Agra, Uttar Pradesh) was built by Jahangir, Akbar's son and successor. Construction was initially begun by Akbar himself but was completed by Jahangir after Akbar's death in 1605. The mausoleum is a fine example of Mughal architecture combining Hindu and Islamic design elements.
Option 2 is incorrect: Humayun was Akbar's father, not his son; Humayun died before Akbar.
Option 3 is incorrect: Shahjahan was Akbar's grandson; he built the Taj Mahal in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, not Akbar's mausoleum.
Option 4 is incorrect: Aurangzeb was Akbar's great-grandson; he is not associated with building Akbar's mausoleum.

The correct answer is option 1.
In the Indian classification of musical instruments (Sangeet Vadya), there are four categories:
1. Ghana Vadya (idiophones) — solid, self-sounding instruments struck together or hit.
2. Avanaddha Vadya (membranophones) — drums covered with skin.
3. Tata Vadya (chordophones) — stringed instruments.
4. Sushira Vadya (aerophones) — wind instruments.
Das-kathi are wooden clappers/sticks beaten together — a classic Ghana Vadya (idiophone).
Option 2 is incorrect: Naal is a type of drum (membranophone) — it belongs to the Avanaddha Vadya category.
Option 3 is incorrect: Jantar is a stringed instrument — it belongs to the Tata Vadya category.
Option 4 is incorrect: Magudi (pungi/been) is a wind instrument — it belongs to the Sushira Vadya category.

The correct answer is option 1.
Force is an interaction between two objects — it is the push or pull that one object exerts on another. For a force to exist, there must be at least two objects interacting. A single isolated object cannot experience a net external force. This is a fundamental concept in Newton's laws of motion.
Option 2 is incorrect: Three objects are not the minimum required for force to come into play.
Option 3 is incorrect: Four objects are not the minimum required.
Option 5 is incorrect: Five objects are not the minimum required.

The correct answer is option 2.
Khalsa College, Amritsar was founded in 1892 by the leaders of the Singh Sabha Movement — a Sikh reform movement that aimed to revive Sikh religious and educational traditions in the late 19th century. The Singh Sabha Movement emphasised education, Gurmat (Sikh teachings), and the Punjabi language, leading to the establishment of Khalsa schools and colleges.
Option 1 is incorrect: The Sanyasi Movement was an 18th-century peasant uprising in Bengal; it had no connection to the founding of Khalsa College.
Option 3 is incorrect: The Shuddhi Movement was a Hindu reconversion movement led by Arya Samaj; it was not connected to Khalsa College.
Option 4 is incorrect: The Swadeshi Movement (1905) was an anti-partition and nationalist economic movement; it was not the basis for founding Khalsa College.

The correct answer is option 2.
In March 1946, the British government sent a three-member Cabinet Mission to India. The three members were: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty). The mission was tasked with examining the demand for Pakistan and finding a way to transfer power to India.
Option 1 is incorrect: The Cabinet Mission had three members, not two.
Option 3 is incorrect: The Cabinet Mission had three members, not eight.
Option 4 is incorrect: The Cabinet Mission had three members, not eleven.

The correct answer is option 3.
SEBEX 2 (Sheathed Explosive 2) is an indigenously developed explosive by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has been certified as 2.01 times more lethal than standard TNT (Trinitrotoluene). SEBEX 2 is intended for use in naval warheads and munitions, significantly enhancing India's defence capabilities.
Option 1 is incorrect: RDX (Research Department Explosive) is a well-known older explosive; it is not the new explosive described in the question.
Option 2 is incorrect: HMX (High Melting Explosive) is another existing military explosive; it is not the newly developed and certified explosive referred to here.
Option 4 is incorrect: JPT is not an established explosive in this context.

The correct answer is option 1.
The Digital India programme was launched on July 1, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was launched with the vision of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The programme focuses on three key areas: digital infrastructure as a utility for every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.
Option 2 is incorrect: 2018 is not the launch year of Digital India.
Option 3 is incorrect: 2019 is not the launch year of Digital India.
Option 4 is incorrect: 2021 is not the launch year of Digital India.