SSC MTS 2025 20 February 2026 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: White (Option 4)
When CO₂ is passed through lime water [Ca(OH)₂], a white precipitate of calcium carbonate ( CaCO ₃) is formed:
CO₂ + Ca(OH)₂ → CaCO ₃↓ (white) + H₂O
This is the standard test for CO₂ — it turns lime water milky white.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Red precipitate is not formed in this reaction.
Option 2 – Green precipitate is not formed.
Option 3 – Blue precipitate is not formed. CaCO ₃ is characteristically white.

Correct Answer: Sublimation (Option 2)
Sublimation is the process in which a solid directly converts into a gas ( vapour ) without passing through the liquid phase. Examples include: dry ice (solid CO₂), iodine crystals, camphor, naphthalene balls.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Solidification (also called freezing) is the change from liquid to solid.
Option 3 – Freezing is the change from liquid to solid, not solid to gas.
Option 4 – Evaporation is the change from liquid to gas at the surface, not solid to gas.

Correct Answer: A type of land gifted to Brahmanas (Option 1)
In the Chola period, ' Brahmadeya ' referred to land gifted (donated) to Brahmanas — either a village or a portion of land. Such land was typically exempt from taxes and was meant to support Brahmin scholars and religious activities.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 – A tax is known by different terms; Brahmadeya specifically means a land grant.
Option 3 – Trading associations in the Chola period were called Nagaram or Manigramam , not Brahmadeya .
Option 4 – Military assemblies are not referred to as Brahmadeya in any historical records.

Correct Answer: Visakhadatta (Option 4)
Mudrarakshas ('The Signet Ring of the Rakshasa') is a Sanskrit play written by Visakhadatta (also spelled Vishakhadatta ). It narrates the story of how Chanakya secured the throne of Chandragupta Maurya by outwitting the minister Rakshasa using a signet ring. It is an invaluable source for understanding the Mauryan political period.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Bhasa was an earlier Sanskrit playwright known for plays like Swapnavasavadatta and Urubhangam .
Option 2 – Chanakya wrote the Arthashastra (treatise on statecraft), not Mudrarakshas .
Option 3 – Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita and Kadambari during the Harsha period (7th century CE).

Correct Answer: Both I and II (Option 3)
Both statements are correct about Buddhist Stupas:
Statement I – Early Buddhist stupas were indeed built of huge mounds of mud (earth). The original Sanchi stupa, for instance, was a simple mud mound constructed during Ashoka's reign.
Statement II – These mud mounds were enclosed (cased/covered) with carefully burnt small standard bricks to give them durability and structural integrity.
Both features — the core mud mound and the outer brick casing — are documented characteristics of early Buddhist stupas, making both statements correct.

Correct Answer: 1972 (Option 2)
In India, the Coking Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act was enacted in 1972, through which coking coal mines were nationalized and brought under government control. Subsequently, all remaining coal mines were nationalized in 1973 under the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – 1970 was not the year of coking coal mine nationalization.
Option 3 – 1974 is incorrect; though some events in the coal sector occurred around this time.
Option 4 – 1976 does not correspond to any major coal nationalization event in India.

Correct Answer: Both I and II (Option 3)
Both statements are correct:
Statement I – The Langahs were a tribal dynasty that ruled Multan and the surrounding region from the mid-15th century until the early 16th century, before being subdued by the Mughals.
Statement II – The Arghuns were a Turko-Mongol dynasty that dominated Sindh (and parts of Baluchistan) before being eventually overcome by the Mughal emperor Humayun and later Akbar's forces.
Both the Langahs (Multan) and Arghuns (Sindh) were brought under Mughal control during the expansion of the Mughal Empire.

Correct Answer: 1572 (Option 3)
Rana Pratap Singh (Maharana Pratap) ascended the throne of Mewar in 1572, following the death of his father Maharana Udai Singh II. He is best known for his resistance against the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his valiant stand at the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – 1556 was the year of the Second Battle of Panipat; Udai Singh II was still the ruler of Mewar.
Option 2 – 1561 does not correspond to any significant event in Rana Pratap's ascension.
Option 4 – 1581 was during Rana Pratap's reign; he recaptured much of Mewar around this time.

Correct Answer: Mizoram (Option 2)
Chheih Lam (also spelled Cheraw Lam or Chheih Lam) is a traditional folk dance of Mizoram. It involves dancers moving gracefully between pairs of horizontal bamboo poles that are clapped together rhythmically. It is one of the most well-known dances of the Mizo people.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Goa is known for Dekhni , Fugdi , and Corridinho dances.
Option 3 – Telangana is known for Perini Sivatandavam, Lambadi, and Kolattam dances.
Option 4 – Karnataka is known for Yakshagana , Dollu Kunitha, and Veeragase dances.

Correct Answer: Manipur (Option 1)
Lai- Haraoba is a major traditional festival of Manipur, celebrated by the Meitei community. 'Lai' means deity and ' Haraoba ' means merrymaking or pleasing. It is a ritualistic festival held to please the Umang Lais (nature deities) and involves traditional Meitei dances, songs, and rituals performed over several days.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 – Tamil Nadu's famous festivals include Pongal, Karthigai Deepam , etc.
Option 3 – Gujarat celebrates Navratri, Uttarayan (Kite Festival), etc.
Option 4 – Himachal Pradesh celebrates Kullu Dussehra, Minjar , Losar, etc.

Correct Answer: Sikh Gurus (Option 2)
Gurpurab (also spelled Gurpurb ) is a Sikh religious festival that commemorates the birth or death anniversaries of the Sikh Gurus, especially Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the founder of Sikhism). The most important Gurpurab is Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrated in November. It involves processions (Nagar Kirtans), prayer gatherings, and community service (langar).
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Hindu Gods are worshipped in festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri — not called Gurpurab .
Option 3 – Sufi Saints are honoured at Urs celebrations at dargahs, not Gurpurab .
Option 4 – Buddhist Monks are commemorated in events like Buddha Purnima, not Gurpurab .

Correct Answer: Chandrayaan-3 (Option 2)
The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover were part of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched on July 14, 2023. On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 made a historic soft landing near the Moon's south polar region, making India the first country to land near the lunar south pole and the fourth country overall to achieve a lunar soft landing.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Chandrayaan-1 (2008) was an orbiter mission; no lander or rover.
Option 3 – Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission, 2013) was a Mars orbiter; no lander.
Option 4 – Aditya L-1 (2023) is a solar observation mission sent to the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point.

Correct Answer: 1985 (Option 3)
Kho-Kho, the traditional Indian tag sport, was first introduced as an official event in the National Games of India in 1985 (the 10th National Games held in Kerala). Since then, it has been a regular feature of the National Games and has grown in popularity nationally and internationally.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – 1935 predates the modern National Games format.
Option 2 – 1965 is incorrect; Kho-Kho was not part of National Games at that time.
Option 4 – 1975 is also incorrect; the formal inclusion was in 1985.

Correct Answer: 2008 (Option 3)
Beijing, China hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 (the 29th Summer Olympics). The games were held from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Beijing is also set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, making it the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – 2000 Summer Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia.
Option 2 – 2004 Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece.
Option 4 – 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London, United Kingdom.

Correct Answer: My Gita (Option 2)
My Gita is a book written by Devdutt Pattanaik, a well-known Indian mythologist and author. In this book, he retells and interprets the Bhagavad Gita through his unique perspective, exploring its philosophy, stories, and relevance to modern life. Pattanaik has written numerous other books on Indian mythology.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Jonaki is an acclaimed Assamese novel written by Arupa Patangia Kalita.
Option 3 – Tomb of Sand (Ret Samadhi) is a Hindi novel by Geetanjali Shree, which won the International Booker Prize in 2022.
Option 4 – The Patient Assassin is a non-fiction book by Anita Anand, about the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Correct Answer: Basketball (Option 2)
Both 'Circle Centre' and 'three-point line' are terms associated with Basketball.
The three-point line is the arc on a basketball court beyond which a successful shot earns 3 points instead of 2.
The centre circle is used for tip-off at the start of the game.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Badminton terms include net, shuttle/birdie, service court, tramlines, etc.
Option 3 – Football terms include goal post, penalty area, offside line, etc.
Option 4 – Kho-Kho terms include central lane, poles, chasing/running teams — not three-point line.

Correct Answer: Hockey (Option 3)
Flagposts (corner flags on the field), Nets (goal nets), and Stick (hockey stick) are all terms specifically associated with Hockey. The hockey stick is the primary equipment used to strike the ball, nets are behind the goals, and flagposts mark corners and other areas of the field.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Cricket uses a bat, not a stick; it does not use nets in play (nets are only for practice).
Option 2 – Badminton uses a racket (not a stick), and while it has a net, it does not have flagposts .
Option 4 – Football has nets and corner flags, but players use feet (not sticks) to play.

Correct Answer: 5 (Option 2)
According to Census 2011, approximately half of India's total population is concentrated in just 5 states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh (undivided). These five states together account for nearly 50% of India's population, reflecting the highly uneven distribution of population across Indian states.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – 3 states would be too few to account for half the population.
Option 3 – 11 is more than required; half the population is in just 5.
Option 4 – 9 states is also more than what census data indicates for this figure.

Correct Answer: New Mangalore Port (Option 3)
Among the given options, New Mangalore Port (located at ~12.87°N latitude, in Mangalore, Karnataka) is the southernmost major port.
Latitude comparison:
New Mangalore Port: ~12.87°N (Karnataka)
Mormugao Port: ~15.4°N (Goa)
Jawaharlal Nehru Port: ~18.95°N (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra)
Deendayal Port: ~23.02°N (Kandla, Gujarat)
The lower the latitude value (closer to equator), the more southward the location. Hence New Mangalore Port is the southernmost among the given options.

Correct Answer: Only I (Option 1)
Statement I is correct: Granite is widely used in the construction of monuments, buildings, temples, and memorials due to its durability and attractive appearance.
Statement II is incorrect: Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, granite is classified as a MINOR mineral (not a major mineral). Major minerals are listed in Schedule I of the MMDR Act and include minerals like coal, iron ore, gold, etc. Granite does not appear in that schedule.
Since only Statement I is correct, the answer is Only I.

Correct Answer: Two (Option 1)
In July 2025, DRDO ( Defence Research and Development Organisation ) successfully conducted two consecutive flight tests of the 'Pralay' surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Pralay is a short-range, quasi-ballistic missile with a range of 150–500 km, designed to strike targets with high accuracy using a solid-propellant system.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 – Three, Option 3 – Four, Option 4 – Five are all incorrect numbers. The correct number of consecutive tests in July 2025 was two.

Correct Answer: K-4 (Option 2)
In November 2024, DRDO highlighted the successful test launch of the K-4, a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), as a game-changing achievement for India's nuclear deterrence. K-4 has a range of over 3,500 km and is designed to be launched from Arihant-class nuclear submarines, significantly enhancing India's sea-based nuclear strike capability.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Rudra is a helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missile system (not a submarine-launched ballistic missile).
Option 3 – Dhruv is India's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), an aircraft — not a missile.
Option 4 – Arjun is India's main battle tank — not a missile.

Correct Answer: 701 billion (Option 1)
As of October 2024, India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves reached a record high of approximately $701 billion (around $700–705 billion), making India one of the largest holders of forex reserves in the world. This milestone reflects strong foreign investment inflows, remittances, and RBI's forex management.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 – $8100 billion is unrealistically large; even the USA's forex reserves are far less.
Option 3 – $71 billion is far too low; India's forex reserves have been over $500 billion for years.
Option 4 – $7100 billion is also unrealistically large and incorrect.