SSC MTS 2025 5 February 2026 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: SBI
State Bank of India (SBI) was the only nationalised bank in India before 1969. It was established in 1955 when the Imperial Bank of India was nationalised and renamed SBI. In 1969, the government nationalised 14 major commercial banks under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Why other options are wrong:
Bank of Baroda - Nationalised in 1969, not before.
Central Bank of India - Nationalised in 1969.
Allahabad Bank - Nationalised in 1969.

Correct Answer: Only II
Statement I is WRONG: The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) targeted a growth rate of 4.5%, not 8.6%.
Statement II is CORRECT: The Second Plan was based on the Mahalanobis model and aimed at rapid industrialisation , particularly development of heavy industries and capital goods.
Since only Statement II is correct, the answer is Only II.

Correct Answer: Only I
Statement I is CORRECT: The Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 1956 classified industries into three categories - Schedule A (reserved for public sector), Schedule B (mixed sector), and Schedule C (private sector).
Statement II is WRONG: The first category (Schedule A) was exclusively reserved for the PUBLIC sector (government), NOT for private players.
Since only Statement I is correct, the answer is Only I.

Correct Answer: Remittances
Remittances (money sent by Indians working abroad to their families in India) are recorded under the CURRENT ACCOUNT (under private transfers), NOT the Capital Account of the Balance of Payments.
Why other options are wrong:
Foreign institutional investment (FII) - Included in Capital/Financial Account.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) - Included in Capital/Financial Account.
External borrowings - Included in Capital Account (as loans from abroad).

Correct Answer: Financial sector
The SARFAESI Act ( Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002) is related to the Financial/Banking sector. It empowers banks and financial institutions to recover non-performing assets (NPAs/bad loans) without intervention of courts by allowing them to seize and sell the secured assets of defaulters.
Why other options are wrong:
Health sector - Governed by separate health regulations.
Tourism sector - Governed by Tourism Ministry regulations.
Telecom sector - Governed by TRAI and Telecom Policy.

Correct Answer: 13 km
The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. Its average height is approximately 13 km (ranging from about 8 km at the poles to 16 km at the equator). It contains about 75% of the atmosphere's mass and almost all weather phenomena occur here.
Why other options are wrong:
50 km - Approximate height of the stratosphere.
85 km - Approximate height of the mesosphere.
90 km - Beyond the mesosphere; near the thermosphere boundary.

Correct Answer: Silica and alumina
The continental crust is known as the SIAL layer (Si = Silica, Al = Alumina/ Aluminium ). Silica (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) are the dominant mineral constituents of the continental mass, making granite the most common rock of continents.
Why other options are wrong:
Nickel and ferrous - These constitute the NIFE layer (Earth's core), not the continental crust.
Silica and magnesium - These form the SIMA layer (oceanic crust), not the continental crust.
Nickel and bauxite - Not the defining constituents of continental crust.

Correct Answer: Bindusara
Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara around 297 BCE. Bindusara ruled the Mauryan Empire for about 25 years. He was followed by his son Ashoka, who became one of India's greatest emperors.
Why other options are wrong:
Ashoka - Succeeded Bindusara (the third Mauryan emperor, not the second).
Dhanananda - Last ruler of the Nanda dynasty, predecessor of Chandragupta Maurya.
Bimbisara - King of Magadha ( Haryanka dynasty), much earlier than Chandragupta.

Correct Answer: Copper and Stone Age
The term 'Chalcolithic' is derived from two Greek words: ' Chalkos ' meaning copper and ' Lithos ' meaning stone. It refers to the Copper-Stone Age, a transitional period between the Neolithic (Stone Age) and the Bronze Age, when humans began using copper tools alongside stone tools.
Why other options are wrong:
Bronze and Stone Age - Incorrect combination; chalcolithic refers to copper, not bronze.
Bronze and Iron Age - Bronze Age and Iron Age are separate later periods.
Silver and Bronze Age - Silver is not associated with the chalcolithic period.

Correct Answer: Both I and II
Both use parasitic nutritive strategies:
Cuscuta ( Amarbel ) - A parasitic plant that attaches to the host plant using haustoria and absorbs water and nutrients. It has no chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise .
Ticks - External parasites (ectoparasites) that feed on the blood of host animals, using a parasitic nutritive strategy.
Since both I and II are correct, the answer is Both I and II.

Correct Answer: Tendrils
Tendrils are slender, thread-like modified stems or leaves that help climbing plants (like pea, cucumber, grapes) to attach and climb. When they touch a support, they coil around it, helping the plant climb upward toward sunlight.
Why other options are wrong:
Thorn - A modified stem for protection (e.g., roses), not for climbing.
Root hair - Unicellular extensions of root cells for water absorption.
Cell sap - The liquid content inside vacuoles; not a structural organ.

Correct Answer: Goa
Kunbi is a traditional folk dance of the Kunbi community in Goa. It is performed by the women of the Kunbi tribe, one of the earliest inhabitants of Goa. The dance is performed during agricultural festivals and celebrations.
Why other options are wrong:
Assam - Known for Bihu folk dance.
Mizoram - Known for Cheraw (bamboo dance) folk dance.
Gujarat - Known for Garba and Dandiya folk dances.

Correct Answer: Gujarat
The Rathawa (also called Gher) dance is associated with the Rathwa tribal community of Gujarat. The Rathwa tribe is mainly found in the Chhota Udaipur district of Gujarat. Their traditional dance is an important part of their cultural celebrations.
Why other options are wrong:
Rajasthan - Rathwa tribe belongs to Gujarat, not Rajasthan.
Odisha - Known for Ghumura , Sambalpuri, and other folk dances.
Mizoram - Known for Cheraw (bamboo dance).

Correct Answer: 12 years
The Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj (Allahabad) is held once every 12 years at the Triveni Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati). An Ardh Kumbh is held every 6 years and a Kumbh Mela every 3 years at different locations.
Why other options are wrong:
2 years - Incorrect interval.
5 years - Incorrect; no major Kumbh cycle of 5 years.
10 years - Incorrect; the cycle is based on 12 years (Jupiter's orbital period).

Correct Answer: Barah Wafat - Islam
Barah Wafat (also called Eid-e-Milad or Milad-un-Nabi) is an Islamic observance marking the birth and death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. It falls on the 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic calendar.
Why other options are wrong:
Mahavir Jayanti - Associated with JAINISM (birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira), not Buddhism.
Guru Nanak Jayanti - Associated with SIKHISM (birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji), not Christianity.
Buddha Jayanti - Associated with BUDDHISM (birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha), not Jainism.

Correct Answer: Priya Hajela
"Ladies' Tailor" is a novel written by Priya Hajela, an Indian author. The book explores themes related to identity, partition, and family dynamics.
Why other options are wrong:
Bapsi Sidhwa - Pakistani author known for 'Ice-Candy-Man' (Cracking India).
Amrita Pritam - Famous Punjabi poet and novelist, known for ' Pinjar '.
Khushwant Singh - Known for 'Train to Pakistan' and 'History of Sikhs'.

Correct Answer: Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb is located in New Delhi. Built in 1570 AD, it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It served as the architectural inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
Why other options are wrong:
Charminar - Located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Victoria Memorial - Located in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Gateway of India - Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Correct Answer: Avanaddha Vadya
Membranophones are instruments that produce sound through a vibrating stretched membrane (skin). In Indian classical music, Avanaddha Vadya refers to percussion instruments with a membrane, such as Tabla , Mridangam, Dholak, Pakhawaj , and Dhol .
Why other options are wrong:
Ghan Vadya - Idiophones (solid/self-sounding instruments like cymbals, bells, ghatam).
Tat Vadya - Chordophones (string instruments like sitar, veena, sarod).
Sushir Vadya - Aerophones (wind instruments like flute, shehnai, harmonium).

Correct Answer: Matanga
Brihaddesi is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on Indian classical music composed by Matanga Muni (approximately 7th-8th century CE). It is historically significant as the first text to use the term 'raga' in the context of music.
Why other options are wrong:
Sharangadeva - Composed 'Sangita Ratnakara' (13th century).
Haripala - Composed 'Sangita Sudhakara'.
Ramamatya - Composed ' Swaramelakalanidhi ' (16th century).

Correct Answer: Drag
Drag is the frictional force exerted by fluids (liquids and gases) on objects moving through them. It acts opposite to the direction of motion and is also called fluid friction or viscous drag. It affects the speed of vehicles, aircraft, and ships.
Why other options are wrong:
Lift - The upward force on an object due to fluid flow (e.g., wings of an aircraft), not friction.
Pressure - Force per unit area exerted by fluid on surfaces; not specifically friction.
Load - The weight or external force on a structure; unrelated to fluid friction.

Correct Answer: Melting point
The Melting Point is the minimum temperature at which a solid changes to liquid state at standard atmospheric pressure. At this temperature, the solid and liquid phases exist in equilibrium. For example, the melting point of ice is 0 degrees Celsius.
Why other options are wrong:
Boiling point - The temperature at which a liquid changes to vapour /gas state.
Absolute point - Not a standard scientific term for this concept.
Vaporization point - Another term for boiling point; not for solid-to-liquid transition.

Correct Answer: Maharashtra
Maharashtra consistently attracts the highest share of total FDI equity inflows among all Indian states. Cities like Mumbai and Pune are major financial and industrial hubs, making Maharashtra the leading destination for foreign direct investment in India.
Why other options are wrong:
Bihar - Ranks much lower in FDI attractiveness due to limited industrial base.
Kerala - A smaller FDI recipient compared to Maharashtra.
Madhya Pradesh - Growing industrially but not the top FDI recipient.

Correct Answer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Anandamath (1882) is a famous Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. It is set against the backdrop of the Sanyasi Revolt (1770s) in Bengal. The novel also contains the patriotic hymn 'Vande Mataram ', which later became a symbol of Indian nationalism.
Why other options are wrong:
Jawahar Lal Nehru - Wrote 'Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of World History'.
Mahatma Gandhi - Wrote 'My Experiments with Truth' (autobiography).
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - A social reformer, not associated with this novel.

Correct Answer: Buddhist Vihara
The Panch Mahal at Fatehpur Sikri (built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century) is a five-storied stepped pavilion. Its architectural pattern is based on the Buddhist Vihara (monastery) style, with each floor decreasing in size as it rises. It has no walls - only columns supporting each floor.
Why other options are wrong:
Jain temple - Jain architectural style has different features (ornate carvings, specific mandapa designs).
Rajput fortress - Rajput architecture focuses on defensive structures with thick walls.
Persian mosque - Persian Islamic style has domes, minarets, and arched gateways, not a tiered column structure.