SSC MTS 2025 19 February 2026 Shift 2 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

The correct answer is option 3.
The Second Five Year Plan (1956–61), designed by P.C. Mahalanobis, emphasized rapid industrialization with a special focus on heavy and basic industries such as steel, iron, coal, and heavy machinery. The plan followed the Mahalanobis model which prioritized capital goods and public sector heavy industries to lay the foundation for self-reliant industrial growth.
Option 1 is incorrect: The IT industry had not yet emerged as a sector in India in the 1950s; it rose to prominence decades later.
Option 2 is incorrect: Food processing industry was not the focus of the Second Plan; agriculture was the priority of the First Plan.
Option 4 is incorrect: Tourism industry was not a focus of the Second Five Year Plan.

The correct answer is option 1.
Rourkela Steel Plant (Odisha), along with Bhilai Steel Plant (Chhattisgarh) and Durgapur Steel Plant (West Bengal), was established during the Second Five Year Plan (1956–61). These were set up with foreign collaboration (Rourkela with West Germany, Bhilai with USSR, Durgapur with UK).
Bokaro Steel Plant (Jharkhand) was established during the Fourth Five Year Plan (1969–74) with Soviet assistance. Therefore, only Statement I is correct.
Option 2 is incorrect: Only Bokaro Steel Plant was established during the Fourth Plan, not the Second.
Option 3 is incorrect: Bokaro was NOT established during the Second Five Year Plan.
Option 4 is incorrect: Rourkela Steel Plant was indeed established during the Second Five Year Plan.

The correct answer is option 1.
Corporation tax (corporate income tax) is a Direct Tax — it is levied directly on the income/profits of companies and is paid directly to the government by the corporation. The burden cannot be shifted to another person.
Indirect taxes, on the other hand, are collected by intermediaries and passed on to the end consumer:
Entertainment tax — levied on entertainment services, collected from consumers indirectly.
Service tax — levied on services, passed on to consumers.
Sales tax — levied on sale of goods, passed on to buyers.
Option 2 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: Entertainment tax is an indirect tax — it is collected from consumers through service providers.
Option 3 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: Service tax is an indirect tax.
Option 4 is incorrect as a 'NOT' answer: Sales tax is an indirect tax.

The correct answer is option 1.
Lachit Barphukan was the commander-in-chief of the Ahom kingdom's forces who led the Ahom army to a decisive victory against the Mughal forces in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671. The battle was fought on the Brahmaputra river near Guwahati and is celebrated as one of the greatest naval battles in Indian history. Lachit Barphukan is a national hero of Assam.
Option 2 is incorrect: Ram Singh was the Mughal commander who led the Mughal forces against the Ahoms in the Battle of Saraighat; he was defeated by Lachit Barphukan.
Option 3 is incorrect: Purandar Singh was a later Ahom king, not the commander at the Battle of Saraighat.
Option 4 is incorrect: Mir Jumla was an earlier Mughal commander who had fought the Ahoms (1662–63), before the Battle of Saraighat.

The correct answer is option 4.
Alamgir II (Aziz-ud-din) ruled the Mughal Empire from 1754 to 1759. He was the son of Jahandar Shah and was placed on the throne by the Maratha-influenced court. He was later murdered by his wazir Imad-ul-Mulk in 1759.
Option 1 is incorrect: Ahmad Shah ruled from 1748 to 1754 — the period just before Alamgir II.
Option 2 is incorrect: Farrukhsiyar ruled from 1713 to 1719 — much earlier.
Option 3 is incorrect: Shah Alam II ruled from 1759 to 1806 — the period after Alamgir II.

The correct answer is option 3.
Salivary amylase (also called ptyalin) is an enzyme secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth. It acts on starch (a complex carbohydrate) and breaks it down into maltose (a simpler sugar). This is why chewing starchy food for a long time makes it taste slightly sweet — the starch is being converted to sugars.
Option 1 is incorrect: Proteins are broken down by protease enzymes (pepsin in the stomach, trypsin in the small intestine), not by salivary amylase.
Option 2 is incorrect: Fats are broken down by lipase enzymes, not by salivary amylase.
Option 4 is incorrect: Vitamins are absorbed directly and are not broken down by salivary amylase.

The correct answer is option 3.
In all living organisms, the first step in glucose breakdown (cellular respiration) is glycolysis — the breakdown of one glucose molecule (6 carbons) into two molecules of pyruvate (3 carbons each). Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and does not require oxygen, making it common to both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Option 1 is incorrect: Conversion of glucose into CO₂ and water is the end result of complete aerobic respiration, not the first step.
Option 2 is incorrect: Conversion of pyruvate into ethanol (alcoholic fermentation) occurs in some organisms like yeast as a later step, after glycolysis.
Option 4 is incorrect: Conversion of pyruvate into lactic acid (lactic acid fermentation) occurs in muscle cells under anaerobic conditions, as a later step after glycolysis.

The correct answer is option 1.
Kaveripattinam (also known as Kaveripoompattinam) was the major port city and capital of the early Chola kingdom. It is also known as Puhar — a famous ancient port city mentioned extensively in Tamil Sangam literature, particularly in the epic Silappatikaram. The city was a prosperous centre of trade and commerce.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kandla is a modern port in Gujarat; it has no connection with the ancient Chola port of Kaveripattinam.
Option 3 is incorrect: Paradip is a major port in Odisha; it is not related to Kaveripattinam.
Option 4 is incorrect: Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) is a modern container port near Mumbai; it is not Kaveripattinam.

The correct answer is option 1.
Ozele is a traditional folk dance performed by the Wancho tribe of Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh. The Wancho people perform Ozele during festivals and community celebrations, reflecting their tribal culture and traditions.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kummi is a traditional folk dance of Tamil Nadu, performed by women.
Option 3 is incorrect: Lambadi (or Lambani) is a folk dance of the nomadic Banjara community, associated with Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Option 4 is incorrect: Dindi is a traditional dance form of Maharashtra, associated with the Varkari devotional tradition.

The correct answer is option 1.
Chhau (specifically Mayurbhanj Chhau) is a traditional dance form performed in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It is known for its martial arts-inspired movements, acrobatic footwork, and vigorous physical style. Unlike the Seraikella and Purulia styles, Mayurbhanj Chhau is performed without masks. Chhau is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Option 2 is incorrect: Dindi is a devotional dance of Maharashtra; it is not associated with Mayurbhanj, Odisha.
Option 3 is incorrect: Julli is not a well-known dance form associated with Mayurbhanj's martial tradition.
Option 4 is incorrect: Chari is a graceful folk dance of Rajasthan performed by women with pots on their heads; it is not from Odisha.

The correct answer is option 1.
Sohrai is a major harvest festival celebrated in Jharkhand, particularly by the Santali, Munda, and other tribal communities. It marks the end of the harvest season and is celebrated with traditional music, dance, and cattle worship. Sohrai painting — a unique folk art — is also practised during this festival.
Option 2 is incorrect: Shigmotsav (Shigmo) is a spring festival celebrated by the Goan Hindu community, not a harvest festival of Jharkhand.
Option 3 is incorrect: Baishagu is a spring festival celebrated by the Bodo community of Assam, not a Jharkhand harvest festival.
Option 4 is incorrect: Halda is not a recognized harvest festival of Jharkhand.

The correct answer is option 1.
The Hemis Festival is a famous Buddhist festival celebrated at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh (Union Territory). It is one of the largest and most colourful festivals in Ladakh, held annually in June-July to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. The festival features masked Cham dances performed by monks.
Option 2 is incorrect: Chandigarh is a Union Territory but does not have the Hemis Monastery or Festival.
Option 3 is incorrect: Puducherry is known for its French heritage and Tamil festivals; the Hemis Festival belongs to Ladakh.
Option 4 is incorrect: Delhi, being the national capital Union Territory, does not have the Hemis Festival.

The correct answer is option 4.
Kesarbai Kerkar (1892–1977) was one of the most celebrated Hindustani classical vocalists of the 20th century and was associated with the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. She was a disciple of Ustad Alladiya Khan. Her voice was so distinctive and powerful that a recording of her singing was included in the Voyager Golden Record sent to space in 1977.
Option 1 is incorrect: Patiala Gharana is known for vocalists like Bade Ghulam Ali Khan; Kesarbai Kerkar was not associated with it.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kirana Gharana is associated with vocalists like Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and Pt. Bhimsen Joshi; not Kesarbai Kerkar.
Option 3 is incorrect: Banaras Gharana is associated with Thumri and Dadra styles; Kesarbai Kerkar belonged to the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana.

The correct answer is option 2.
As per the Department of Atomic Energy, India holds approximately 21% of the world's total thorium reserves (around 846,477 tonnes), making it one of the largest thorium-reserve nations in the world. India's thorium deposits are found mainly along the monazite sands on the Kerala coast, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme aims to utilise these thorium reserves for energy production.
Option 1 is incorrect: 31% is not the correct figure for India's share of global thorium reserves.
Option 3 is incorrect: 44% significantly overstates India's share.
Option 4 is incorrect: 54% is an overestimation of India's thorium reserves share.

The correct answer is option 2.
'Half a Life' (2001) is a novel written by V.S. Naipaul (Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul), the Nobel Prize-winning Trinidad-born British author of Indian origin. Other notable works by Naipaul include 'A House for Mr. Biswas', 'An Area of Darkness', 'India: A Wounded Civilization', 'A Bend in the River', and 'The Enigma of Arrival'.
Option 1 is incorrect: 'Eunuch Park' is not a book by V.S. Naipaul.
Option 3 is incorrect: 'The Princess' is not written by V.S. Naipaul.
Option 4 is incorrect: 'A Passage to England' sounds similar to E.M. Forster's 'A Passage to India'; it is not a V.S. Naipaul title.

The correct answer is option 4.
'Brahma's Hair' is a book written by Maneka Gandhi, former Union Minister and animal rights activist. The book is about the mythology of India's rivers and the stories associated with them. Maneka Gandhi is also known for 'Heads and Tails' and her work on animal welfare.
Option 1 is incorrect: Karan Singh is a politician and writer known for works like 'Samar', 'Heir Apparent', and philosophical writings; he did not write 'Brahma's Hair'.
Option 2 is incorrect: Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister, is not known for authoring 'Brahma's Hair'.
Option 3 is incorrect: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was primarily known as a poet; he did not write 'Brahma's Hair'.

The correct answer is option 3.
The Dilwara Jain Temples are located in Mount Abu, Rajasthan — the only hill station in the Thar Desert region. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, they are renowned for their breathtaking marble carvings and are considered among the finest examples of Jain architecture in India.
Option 1 is incorrect: Kashi Vishwanath Temple is located in Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh.
Option 2 is incorrect: The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is located in Amritsar, Punjab.
Option 4 is incorrect: The Thousand Pillar Temple (Rudreshwara Temple) is located in Warangal, Telangana.

The correct answer is option 2.
Gol Gumbaz, located in Bijapur (Vijayapura), Karnataka, is the largest dome in India and was the largest dome in the world at the time of its construction (1656 CE). Built by the Adil Shahi dynasty, it is the mausoleum of Sultan Muhammad Adil Shah. The dome has a diameter of about 44 metres and is famous for its 'Whispering Gallery' where a whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side.
Option 1 is incorrect: Adhai Din Ka Jhopra in Ajmer is a mosque, not known for having India's largest dome.
Option 3 is incorrect: Data Darbar is a Sufi shrine in Lahore, Pakistan; not the largest dome in India.
Option 4 is incorrect: The Taj Mahal in Agra has a beautiful dome but it is not India's largest. The Taj's dome is approximately 17.7 metres in diameter — much smaller than Gol Gumbaz.

The correct answer is option 1.
Both Kappad Beach and Chal Beach are located in Kerala. Kappad Beach (also known as Kappakadavu) in Kozhikode district is historically significant as the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first landed in India in 1498. Chal Beach is also located in Kerala.
Option 2 is incorrect: Gujarat has beaches like Mandvi and Somnath, but not Kappad or Chal.
Option 3 is incorrect: Goa is famous for beaches like Baga, Calangute, and Colva, but Kappad and Chal are in Kerala.
Option 4 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh has beaches like Rishikonda and Bheemunipatnam, but not Kappad or Chal.

The correct answer is option 1.
Statement I is correct: An artificial satellite is indeed a man-made object launched into orbit around a planet (or other celestial body) for a specific purpose such as communication, weather forecasting, navigation, or scientific research.
Statement II is incorrect: The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth — it was not launched by humans. Natural satellites are celestial bodies that orbit a planet due to gravitational forces, while artificial satellites are man-made.
Option 2 is incorrect: Statement II is wrong because the Moon is a natural satellite, not an artificial one.
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.
Earthquakes are the primary indirect source of information about Earth's interior. Seismic waves (P-waves and S-waves) generated by earthquakes travel through the Earth and are detected by seismographs. The speed and path of these waves change as they pass through different layers, providing indirect evidence about Earth's internal structure, composition, and density.
Volcanoes are considered a more direct source — they bring material from deep inside the Earth (mantle) to the surface, providing direct samples of the interior material.
Option 1 is incorrect: Volcanoes bring interior material to the surface, making them a more direct (not indirect) source of information.
Option 3 is incorrect: Including volcanoes as an indirect source is debatable in standard classification; only earthquakes are classified as indirect sources.
Option 4 is incorrect: Earthquakes are clearly an indirect source of information about Earth's interior.

The correct answer is option 4.
Approximately 80% of India's total road network consists of Rural Roads (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana roads, village roads, and other rural/panchayat roads). India has one of the largest road networks in the world, and rural roads form the vast majority of this network, connecting villages and remote areas to main roads.
Option 1 is incorrect: National Highways account for only about 2% of total road length but carry about 40% of road traffic.
Option 2 is incorrect: State Highways form a relatively small percentage of total road length.
Option 3 is incorrect: District Roads are a significant category but do not account for 80% of total road length.

The correct answer is option 1.
Using Newton's Second Law: F = ma
First, find acceleration: a = (v - u) / t = (8 - 3) / 5 = 5 / 5 = 1 m/s²
Then, find force: F = m × a = 6 kg × 1 m/s² = 6 N
Option 2 is incorrect: 10 N would require an acceleration of 10/6 ≈ 1.67 m/s², which does not match the given data.
Option 3 is incorrect: 15 N would require an acceleration of 15/6 = 2.5 m/s², which does not match.
Option 4 is incorrect: 20 N would require an acceleration of 20/6 ≈ 3.33 m/s², which does not match the given data.

The correct answer is option 2.
Loudness is the subjective measure of how the human ear perceives the strength or magnitude of a sound. It is the ear's response to sound intensity — a physiological and psychological measure. Loudness is measured in phons or sones and depends on both the intensity and frequency of sound.
Option 1 is incorrect: Frequency refers to the number of vibrations per second (measured in Hz); it determines the pitch of sound, not the ear's response.
Option 3 is incorrect: Pitch is the perceived highness or lowness of a sound, related to frequency; it is not the term for the ear's response to sound strength.
Option 4 is incorrect: Intensity is the objective, physical measure of sound energy per unit area (measured in W/m² or decibels). Loudness is the subjective ear response to intensity.

The correct answer is option 3.
In India's electrical supply system (as per IS standards and IEC conventions):
Green (or Green with Yellow stripe) — Earth wire (protective ground)
Red (or Brown in newer standards) — Live wire (phase)
Black (or Blue in newer standards) — Neutral wire
The earth wire is connected to the ground for safety, providing a path for fault current and protecting users from electric shock. Green is the universally recognized colour for the earth/ground wire.
Option 1 is incorrect: White is not used for the earth wire in India's electrical system.
Option 2 is incorrect: Red denotes the live (phase) wire in the older Indian electrical standard.
Option 4 is incorrect: Black denotes the neutral wire, not the earth wire.