SSC MTS 2025 5 February 2026 Shift 2 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: Forced labour
Vetti (also written as 'Vetti') was a form of forced/unpaid labour tax collected during the Chola period in South India. Peasants and lower-caste communities were required to provide free labour to the king and landlords as a form of taxation. It was similar to the 'begar' system.
Why other options are wrong:
Cash - Vetti was not a monetary tax.
Gold - Vetti was not collected in gold.
Grain - Grain tax was called 'Kadamai'; Vetti specifically referred to forced labour.

Correct Answer: Based on crop yields, prices and area cultivated
The Zabt system (Dahsala system) was introduced during Akbar's reign by his revenue minister Raja Todar Mal. Under this system, tax was calculated based on: average crop yields over 10 years, prevailing market prices of crops, and the actual area under cultivation. It was a scientific and fair method of land revenue assessment.
Why other options are wrong:
Land size alone - This was a simpler earlier method; Zabt was more comprehensive.
Fixed percentage of crop yield - This was the Batai/crop-sharing system.
Fixed annual amount per farmer - This was the Nasaq system, not Zabt.

Correct Answer: 1972
The Rs. 20 denomination banknote was first introduced in India in 1972 by the Reserve Bank of India. It was issued to meet the growing demand for currency of this denomination in daily transactions.
Why other options are wrong:
1970 - Rs. 20 note had not yet been introduced.
1974 - Two years after the actual introduction.
1976 - Four years after the actual introduction.

Correct Answer: Grants
In the Balance of Payments, the Current Account records: trade in goods (visible trade), trade in services (invisible trade), investment income (interest, dividends), and current transfers including Grants (aid/gifts between countries). Grants are one-way transfers with no obligation of repayment.
Why other options are wrong:
Foreign institutional investment (FII) - Recorded in the Capital/Financial Account.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) - Recorded in the Capital/Financial Account.
External borrowings - Recorded in the Capital Account (as loans).

Correct Answer: Part - IXA
Part IXA of the Indian Constitution (Articles 243P to 243ZG) deals with Municipalities (urban local bodies). It was inserted by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. It provides constitutional status to urban local governance including Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats.
Why other options are wrong:
Part XIV - Deals with Services under the Union and States.
Part XVII - Deals with Official Language.
Part XII - Deals with Finance, Property, Contracts, and Suits.

Correct Answer: two
India spans approximately 30 degrees of longitude from east (Arunachal Pradesh, ~97 degrees E) to west (Gujarat, ~68 degrees E). Since Earth rotates 15 degrees per hour, this difference means the sun rises approximately 2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat. This is why India follows a single standard time (IST) to avoid confusion.
Why other options are wrong:
one - Incorrect; the time difference is approximately 2 hours.
three - Exceeds the actual longitudinal time difference.
four - Significantly overstates the difference.

Correct Answer: duns
Duns (also written as Doons) are longitudinal valleys formed between the Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) and the Shiwaliks (outer Himalayas). Famous examples include Dehradun and Patlidun. They are fertile valleys used for agriculture and settlements.
Why other options are wrong:
doabs - Refers to the land between two rivers (do = two, ab = water).
Jabs - Not a standard geographical term for Himalayan valleys.
Ranns - Refers to seasonal salt marshes, like the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Correct Answer: 3rd
Venus is the 3rd brightest object in the sky, after the Sun (1st) and the Moon (2nd). Due to its thick cloud cover that reflects about 70% of sunlight, Venus appears very bright and is often visible to the naked eye even during twilight. It is also called the 'Morning Star' and 'Evening Star'.
Why other options are wrong:
2nd - The Moon is the 2nd brightest object in the sky.
4th - Venus is brighter than any star; Jupiter is typically 4th.
7th - Much lower ranking; Venus is clearly 3rd.

Correct Answer: alluvial
The Northern Plains of India (Indo-Gangetic Plains) are entirely formed by the deposition of alluvial soil brought by the Himalayan rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries over millions of years. Alluvial soil is very fertile and supports intensive agriculture.
Why other options are wrong:
Black soil - Found in the Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP); known as Regur/Cotton soil.
Laterite soil - Found in high rainfall areas of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu; less fertile.
Yellow soil - Found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh; not in northern plains.

Correct Answer: Adam's Bridge
Ram Setu (the chain of limestone shoals connecting Rameswaram, India to Mannar Island, Sri Lanka) has been known as 'Adam's Bridge' since the colonial era. The name derives from the legend that Adam crossed it from India to Sri Lanka after being expelled from the Garden of Eden. It is called 'Rama's Bridge' in Hindu tradition.
Why other options are wrong:
Alexander's Passage - Not a historical name for Ram Setu.
Marco's Causeway - Not a name associated with Ram Setu.
Columbus' Crossing - Columbus explored the Americas; unrelated to Ram Setu.

Correct Answer: Systolic pressure
Systolic pressure is the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart ventricles contract (systole) and pump blood into the arteries. It is the higher of the two blood pressure readings (e.g., 120 in '120/80 mmHg'). Normal systolic pressure is around 120 mmHg.
Why other options are wrong:
Diastolic pressure - Blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats (relaxation phase); it is the lower reading.
Venous pressure - Pressure of blood within the veins; much lower than arterial pressure.
Capillary pressure - Pressure within capillaries; even lower and not measured routinely.

Correct Answer: Chera
Vanji (present-day Karur in Tamil Nadu) was the capital of the Chera dynasty, one of the three major ancient Tamil kingdoms (the other two being Chola and Pandya). The Cheras ruled the western coastal area and parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Why other options are wrong:
Haryanka - A dynasty of the Magadha region (Bihar), unrelated to South India.
Pallava - A later South Indian dynasty whose capital was Kanchipuram.
Rashtrakuta - A medieval dynasty from the Deccan region.

Correct Answer: 29
Siddhartha Gautama was 29 years old when he first ventured out of his palace and encountered the 'Four Sights' - an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and a wandering ascetic. These encounters revealed to him the reality of human suffering, leading to his Great Renunciation (Mahabhinishkramana) and his quest for enlightenment.
Why other options are wrong:
42 - By age 42, the Buddha had already attained enlightenment and was teaching.
38 - Incorrect age; he left at 29.
33 - Incorrect; this is not a significant age in Buddha's life story.

Correct Answer: West Bengal
Raibenshe is a martial folk dance form of West Bengal, traditionally performed by men using sticks, swords, and shields. It originated from the Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of Bengal. It depicts warrior traditions and combat skills through rhythmic movements.
Why other options are wrong:
Kerala - Known for Kathakali, Theyyam, and Mohiniyattam.
Puducherry - A Union Territory with Tamil cultural traditions.
Maharashtra - Known for Lavani, Tamasha, and Koli dance forms.

Correct Answer: Tamil Nadu
Theru Koothu (meaning 'street play' in Tamil) is a vibrant traditional night-time street theatre form of Tamil Nadu. It is performed during temple festivals and village celebrations, and is known for its colourful costumes, loud music, and dramatic storytelling, often based on episodes from the Mahabharata.
Why other options are wrong:
Goa - Known for Tiatr and Dekhnni folk theatre.
Odisha - Known for Danda Nata, Chhau, and Odissi traditions.
Arunachal Pradesh - Known for its tribal dance forms.

Correct Answer: Mahavira's
Deo Deepawali (Dev Deepawali) celebrated in Bihar, particularly at Pawapuri, marks the nirvana (liberation/death) of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Mahavira attained nirvana at Pawapuri in Bihar, which is a major Jain pilgrimage site. The festival is celebrated with thousands of lamps.
Why other options are wrong:
Jesus Christ's - Christmas celebrates Christ's birth; his death is observed as Good Friday.
Guru Nanak's - Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrates his birth anniversary.
Buddha's - Buddha Purnima celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana.

Correct Answer: Kutch
Rann Utsav is a three-month annual cultural festival held in the Rann of Kutch (the Great White Rann), in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It celebrates the unique white salt desert landscape and Gujarati folk culture, art, and traditions. It is organized by the Gujarat Tourism department.
Why other options are wrong:
Rajkot - A city in Saurashtra region, not associated with Rann Utsav.
Vadodara - Known for its cultural heritage but not the site of Rann Utsav.
Gandhinagar - Capital of Gujarat; not the location of Rann Utsav.

Correct Answer: Madhya Pradesh
Sanjha is a traditional folk art and musical tradition of Madhya Pradesh, where young girls create wall paintings (using cow dung and flower patterns) and sing devotional songs in groups during the evenings, especially during the Pitru Paksha and early autumn period.
Why other options are wrong:
Kerala - Known for Sopana Sangeetha and Mappila Paattu folk music.
Punjab - Known for Bhangra, Giddha, and Jugni folk traditions.
Telangana - Known for Perini Shivatandavam and Lambadi folk traditions.

Correct Answer: Gujarat
Raga Sorathi derives its name from the 'Sorath' or 'Saurashtra' region of Gujarat. Saurashtra (also called Sorath historically) is the peninsula in western Gujarat. The raga is deeply associated with the folk music and cultural traditions of this region.
Why other options are wrong:
Punjab - Punjab is associated with ragas like Bhairon and Bilawal.
Tripura - A northeastern state; not associated with raga Sorathi.
Jammu and Kashmir - Associated with Kashmiri folk music traditions like Chakri.

Correct Answer: Shashi Tharoor
'Riot: A Novel' (2001) is written by Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician, diplomat, and prolific author. The novel explores Hindu-Muslim communal tensions in India through a fictional riot in a small town, presented through multiple perspectives including diaries, interviews, and letters.
Why other options are wrong:
Samit Basu - Known for 'The Simoqin Prophecies' and other works.
Anita Nair - Known for 'Ladies Coupe' and 'Mistress'.
Shobha Rao - Known for 'Girls Burn Brighter' and 'An Unrestored Woman'.

Correct Answer: Salman Rushdie
'Joseph Anton: A Memoir' (2012) is an autobiography written by Salman Rushdie. The title refers to the pseudonym Rushdie used while living in hiding after the Iranian fatwa issued against him following the publication of 'The Satanic Verses' (1988). Joseph Anton was derived from the first names of two of his favourite authors: Joseph Conrad and Anton Chekhov.
Why other options are wrong:
Kiran Desai - Known for 'The Inheritance of Loss' (Booker Prize winner).
Chetan Bhagat - Known for '2 States', '3 Idiots' (Five Point Someone), etc.
Amit Chaudhuri - Known for 'A Strange and Sublime Address' and other literary works.

Correct Answer: British influence with cathedrals and tree-lined avenues
Chennai (formerly Madras) was one of the earliest and most prominent British colonial cities in India. Its architectural character is defined by British colonial buildings including St. George's Cathedral, St. Mary's Church (oldest British church in India), the Madras High Court, and wide tree-lined avenues like Anna Salai.
Why other options are wrong:
Mughal domes and minarets - Mughal architecture is prominent in North India (Delhi, Agra, Lucknow).
Rajput palaces - Rajput architecture is characteristic of Rajasthan.
Buddhist stupas - Found at Sanchi (MP), Amaravati (AP); not defining Chennai's architecture.

Correct Answer: He was forced to leave the kingdom.
After the Revolt of 1857 was suppressed by the British, Bahadur Shah Zafar (the last Mughal Emperor) was captured, tried for treason, and exiled to Rangoon (Yangon, Burma) in 1858. He died there in 1862 at the age of 87, far from his homeland. With his exile, the Mughal dynasty came to an official end.
Why other options are wrong:
He was made a puppet ruler - He had already been a nominal ruler; after 1857 he was exiled.
He was made the emperor again - The British abolished the Mughal throne entirely.
He voluntarily abdicated - He did not willingly give up the throne; he was forcibly exiled.

Correct Answer: 1822
The Mahalwari system of land revenue was introduced in 1822 in the North-Western Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh) by Holt Mackenzie. Under this system, the village community (mahal) collectively paid revenue to the government. It was later modified by R. Martin Bird in 1833.
Why other options are wrong:
1765 - Year the Diwani rights were granted to the East India Company after the Battle of Buxar.
1793 - Year the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari system) was introduced in Bengal by Lord Cornwallis.
1801 - Year the Ryotwari system was introduced in Madras by Thomas Munro.

Correct Answer: To ensure sound after reflection reaches all corners of the hall
Curved ceilings in concert halls, conference halls, and cinema halls act as concave reflectors. They reflect sound waves uniformly so that reflected sound reaches all corners and areas of the hall evenly. This ensures that the audience in every seat experiences good sound quality without dead zones or echoes.
Why other options are wrong:
To stop sound waves - Curved ceilings reflect sound, not stop it.
To focus in one direction - Curved ceilings distribute sound widely, not in one direction.
To absorb sound waves - Sound absorption is done by soft materials like foam panels, not curved ceilings.