SSC Selection Post 2025 24 July 2025 Shift 1 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Madhya Pradesh
The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Power Project, located on the Omkareshwar reservoir (Narmada River) in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, is the world's largest floating solar power plant. With a planned capacity of 600 MW, Phase 1 (278.5 MW) was inaugurated in 2023 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in partnership with the World Bank.
Option 1 (Tamil Nadu): Has significant solar capacity but not the world's largest floating plant.
Option 2 (Andhra Pradesh): Does not host the world's largest floating solar project.
Option 4 (Gujarat): Hosts the Dhuvaran Solar Plant and other projects but not this record-holder.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Mars
Mars is known as the Red Planet because its surface is covered with iron oxide (rust), giving it a distinctive reddish appearance when viewed from Earth or space. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and has been the focus of numerous exploration missions including NASA's Perseverance rover.
Option 1 (Earth): Called the Blue Planet due to its vast oceans.
Option 3 (Jupiter): Known as the Giant Planet; has a distinctive Great Red Spot (a storm), but is not called the Red Planet.
Option 4 (Venus): Known as the Morning Star or Evening Star; appears bright white-yellow, not red.

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Andromeda
Andromeda (M31) is the nearest large galaxy to our Milky Way, located approximately 2.537 million light-years away. It is a spiral galaxy and is the most distant object visible to the naked eye. It is on a collision course with the Milky Way, expected to merge in about 4.5 billion years.
Option 1 (Sirius): The brightest star in the night sky; located in the constellation Canis Major.
Option 2 (Orion): A prominent constellation (pattern of stars) in the night sky; not a galaxy.
Option 3 (Ursa Minor): A constellation containing Polaris (the North Star); not a galaxy.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Narmada Bachao Andolan
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), meaning 'Save Narmada Movement,' was a social movement led by activist Medha Patkar opposing the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River due to its massive displacement of tribal and rural communities. The movement began in the 1980s and became internationally recognized.
Option 1 (Save Ganga Movement): A movement focused on cleaning and protecting the Ganga river; led by environmentalists and saints, not Medha Patkar.
Option 2 (Chipko Movement): A forest conservation movement in Uttarakhand (1970s) where villagers hugged trees to prevent felling; led by figures like Sunderlal Bahuguna and Gaura Devi.
Option 4 (Project Tiger): A government wildlife conservation programme launched in 1973 to protect tigers; not a protest movement.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Emigration
Emigration refers to the act of leaving one's native country or region to settle permanently in another country. The person doing so is called an emigrant. From the perspective of the destination country, the same person is called an immigrant, and the process is called immigration.
Option 1 (Immigration): Refers to entering and settling in a foreign country — the opposite perspective (from the receiving country's view).
Option 3 (Urbanization): The process of population shift from rural to urban areas within a country; not about international migration.
Option 4 (Industrialization): The process of economic and social transformation through industrial development; unrelated to migration.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Mumbai
As per the 2011 Census of India, Mumbai (Greater Mumbai) was the most populous city with a population of approximately 12.4 million, making it India's most populous city (city/town classification). Delhi had 11 million as a city. However, the Delhi Urban Agglomeration was larger overall. Note: In terms of urban agglomeration, Delhi UA (16.3M) exceeded Mumbai UA (12.4M) in 2011.
Option 1 (Delhi): Delhi UA was larger overall, but as per city classification in 2011 Census, Mumbai city was ranked first.
Option 3 (Kolkata): Third most populous city/UA in India per 2011 Census.
Option 4 (Bengaluru): Ranked lower in 2011 Census population rankings.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – DNA is converted into RNA
Transcription is the first step of gene expression, in which a specific segment of DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA) by the enzyme RNA polymerase. The mRNA then carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosomes for protein synthesis. The central dogma of molecular biology is: DNA → RNA (Transcription) → Protein (Translation).
Option 1 (DNA replicated into identical copies): This describes DNA Replication, not transcription.
Option 2 (RNA translated into proteins): This describes Translation, the second step after transcription.
Option 4 (Proteins folded into functional shapes): This describes protein folding (post-translational modification), which occurs after translation.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – To provide affordable healthcare
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), launched in 2018, is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. Its main goal is to provide affordable healthcare to economically vulnerable families, offering health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization across empanelled hospitals.
Option 1 (Free education): Addressed by schemes like Samagra Shiksha and RTE; not Ayushman Bharat.
Option 3 (Promote agriculture): Addressed by PM-KISAN and other agricultural schemes.
Option 4 (Improve transportation): Addressed by PM Gati Shakti and other infrastructure schemes.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Displacement includes direction; distance does not
Displacement is a vector quantity — it has both magnitude and direction (shortest straight-line path from start to end point). Distance is a scalar quantity — it has only magnitude (total path length travelled) with no direction. For example, if you walk 4 km north then 3 km east, distance = 7 km but displacement = 5 km (northeast).
Option 1 (Distance includes direction): Incorrect; distance is scalar with no direction.
Option 3 (Both scalar): Incorrect; displacement is a vector, not scalar.
Option 4 (Both vector): Incorrect; distance is scalar, not a vector.

The Santosh Trophy 2022-23 (often referred to as the 2023 edition) final was held inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This was a historic milestone for the tournament, as it marked the first time the domestic Indian championship was decided on foreign soil. In the final, held at the King Fahd International Stadium on March 4, 2023,Karnatakadefeated Meghalaya 3–2 to claim the title.
Summary of the 2022–23 Santosh Trophy Final
Winner:Karnataka
Runners-up:Meghalaya
Final Venue:King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date:March 4, 2023

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Gujarat
Chabahar Port, located on the Gulf of Oman in southeastern Iran, provides India with direct maritime access to Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Gujarat benefits the most because: (1) it is geographically the closest Indian state to Iran, (2) it has the largest number of ports (Kandla, Mundra) handling this trade, and (3) Gujarat's strong trade ties with the Persian Gulf and West Asia make Chabahar a strategic asset for the state's export-import activities.
Option 2 (Maharashtra): Has significant trade through Mumbai but is geographically farther from Chabahar.
Option 3 (Kerala): Located on the southwestern coast; its trade is more oriented toward the southern Arabian Sea routes.
Option 4 (Tamil Nadu): Located on the southeastern coast; primarily benefits from Bay of Bengal trade routes.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Malgudi
Malgudi is the fictional South Indian town created by R.K. Narayan as the setting for most of his celebrated works including 'Swami and Friends,' 'The Bachelor of Arts,' 'The Financial Expert,' 'The Guide,' and 'Malgudi Days.' Narayan is considered one of India's greatest English-language authors, and Malgudi has become iconic in Indian literature.
Option 2 ( Panchgani ): A hill station in Maharashtra; not associated with R.K. Narayan's works.
Option 3 (Shimla): A hill station in Himachal Pradesh; associated with Rudyard Kipling but not R.K. Narayan.
Option 4 (Darjeeling): A town in West Bengal; not connected to R.K. Narayan's fiction.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Hindustani
Hindustani classical music is one of India's two major classical music traditions (the other being Carnatic). It originated in North India and has been influenced by Persian and Mughal musical traditions. Key features include ragas, talas, and improvisation. Notable forms include Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, and Ghazal.
Option 1 (Bhangra): A folk dance and music form from Punjab; not a classical tradition.
Option 2 (Kuchipudi): A classical dance form (not music) from Andhra Pradesh; one of the 8 classical dance forms of India.
Option 4 (Garba): A folk dance form from Gujarat, traditionally performed during Navratri; not a classical music form.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Gold
At the Olympic Games, the Gold medal is awarded for first place (winner), Silver for second place, and Bronze for third place. This tradition has been maintained since the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis. The Gold medal is actually made mostly of silver, with at least 6 grams of gold plating.
Option 1 (Bronze): Third place.
Option 2 (Silver): Second place.
Option 4 (Platinum): Not an Olympic medal category.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Khushwant Singh
'Train to Pakistan' (1956) is a landmark novel by Khushwant Singh set during the Partition of India in 1947. It depicts the communal violence and human tragedy in a fictional village called Mano Majra on the India-Pakistan border, through which trains carrying refugees and dead bodies passed. Khushwant Singh was a renowned journalist, historian, and author.
Option 2 (Mulk Raj Anand): Known for 'Untouchable' and 'Coolie'; did not write Train to Pakistan.
Option 3 (Arundhati Roy): Known for 'The God of Small Things' (1997 Booker Prize winner); did not write Train to Pakistan.
Option 4 (Vikram Seth): Known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate'; did not write Train to Pakistan.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
BRICS is an acronym for the association of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. South Africa joined in 2010, completing the group. BRICS nations represent about 41% of the world's population and 24% of global GDP. (Note: In 2024, the group expanded to BRICS+ with new members including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Argentina.)
Option 2 (Britain, Russia, India, China, South Korea): Britain and South Korea are not BRICS members.
Option 3 (Brazil, Romania, Indonesia, China, Singapore): Romania, Indonesia, and Singapore are not BRICS members.
Option 4 (Belgium, Russia, Italy, Canada, Spain): These are not BRICS nations; Canada, Italy, Belgium, and Spain are G7/EU members.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Internet speed
The World Happiness Report (which produces the Happiness Index/Rankings) measures happiness based on factors including: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy (Health), freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption, and positive/negative affect (Psychological well-being). Environmental factors (Environment) are also considered in some happiness frameworks.
Internet speed is NOT a recognized domain in any standard Happiness Index measurement framework. It is a technical/infrastructure metric unrelated to subjective well-being measurement.
Option 1 (Health): Measured via healthy life expectancy in the WHR.
Option 2 (Environment): Considered in several happiness indices including the Happy Planet Index.
Option 4 (Psychological well-being): Measured through positive/negative affect and life satisfaction scores.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Total demand for goods and services in an economy
Aggregate Demand (AD) refers to the total demand for all final goods and services in an economy at a given time and price level. It is expressed as: AD = C + I + G + (X – M), where C = Consumer spending, I = Investment, G = Government spending, X = Exports, M = Imports. It is a macroeconomic concept representing economy-wide demand.
Option 1 (Total demand for a specific product): This describes individual market demand, not aggregate/macroeconomic demand.
Option 3 (Demand for imported goods): Import demand is only one component (subtracted from AD); not the full definition.
Option 4 (Demand for luxury items): A specific subset of consumer demand; not aggregate demand.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Sanitation and hygiene
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission), launched on October 2, 2014 (Gandhi Jayanti), focuses primarily on sanitation and hygiene — specifically eliminating open defecation, constructing household and community toilets, promoting solid/liquid waste management, and creating awareness about hygiene practices. The mission has two components: SBM-Gramin (rural) and SBM-Urban.
Option 1 (Digital literacy): Addressed by PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and Digital India.
Option 2 (Clean drinking water): Addressed by Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal) and earlier National Rural Drinking Water Programme .
Option 4 (Skill development): Addressed by Skill India Mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Women and SC/ST entrepreneurs
The Stand-Up India Scheme, launched on April 5, 2016, aims to facilitate bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. The scheme specifically targets these historically underrepresented groups to promote entrepreneurship.
Option 1 (Foreign investors): Not the target group; foreign investment is governed by FDI policies.
Option 2 (Large corporations): Stand-Up India targets greenfield enterprises by individuals from marginalized groups, not large businesses.
Option 3 (Government employees): Government employees are not the beneficiaries of this entrepreneurship scheme.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Article 14 to Article 18
The Right to Equality is guaranteed under Articles 14 to 18 of the Indian Constitution: Article 14 (Equality before law), Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth), Article 16 (Equality of opportunity in public employment), Article 17 (Abolition of untouchability), Article 18 (Abolition of titles).
Option 2 (Articles 19–22): These cover the Right to Freedom (freedom of speech, assembly, movement, profession, etc.).
Option 3 (Articles 12–13): Article 12 defines 'State' and Article 13 deals with laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights — these are definitional/general provisions, not the Right to Equality itself.
Option 4 (Articles 21–23): Article 21 (Right to Life), Article 22 (Protection against arrest), Article 23 (Prohibition of forced labour ) — these are under Right to Freedom and Right against Exploitation.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Lok Sabha Speaker
Under Article 118 of the Indian Constitution, the Lok Sabha Speaker presides over a joint sitting (joint session) of both Houses of Parliament. A joint sitting is convened by the President under Article 108 when a deadlock arises between the two Houses on a Bill. The decision is taken by a simple majority of total members present and voting.
Option 1 (President): The President convenes the joint sitting but does not preside over it.
Option 2 (Prime Minister): Leads the government but has no constitutional role in chairing Parliament sessions.
Option 4 (Rajya Sabha Chairperson/Vice President): Presides over Rajya Sabha sessions but NOT joint sittings.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Red sandstone
The Mathura School of Art (2nd century BCE – 12th century CE) predominantly used spotted red sandstone quarried from Sikri (near Fatehpur Sikri) in its sculptures. This distinctive reddish-buff stone gave Mathura sculptures their characteristic appearance. The school produced Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu sculptures and was a major centre of Indian art during the Kushan and Gupta periods.
Option 1 (Marble): Used in Mughal architecture (Taj Mahal) and some Rajasthani temples; not typical of Mathura School.
Option 3 (Bronze): Bronze casting was more characteristic of the South Indian Chola School (famous for Nataraja statues).
Option 4 (Wood): Wooden sculpture is a traditional art form in Kerala and parts of Northeast India; not associated with Mathura School.

The famous emperor who extensively patronized and developed the Mathura School of art wasKanishka Iof the Kushan Empire. Under Kushan rule, particularly during his 1st to 3rd century reign, artists produced the first anthropomorphic images of the Buddha, along with celebrated Jain and Hindu deities.
While the style originated earlier, Kanishka and his successors (like Huvishka and Vasudeva) propelled the Mathura school to new heights using locally sourced spotted red sandstone. The tradition was further refined and reached its artistic zenith later under the Gupta Empire (such as during the reign of Samudragupta).

Correct Answer: Option 3 – By providing accurate diagnoses using data analysis
AI has significantly improved healthcare by enabling more accurate diagnoses through analysis of large datasets — including medical images (radiology, pathology), patient history, and genomic data. AI tools can detect diseases like cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and cardiac conditions with accuracy matching or exceeding human specialists. Examples include Google's DeepMind for eye disease detection and AI-based diagnostic platforms in India.
Option 1 (Replacing all doctors): AI assists and augments doctors' work; it does not and cannot replace all doctors, as human judgment, empathy, and complex decision-making remain essential.
Option 2 (Reducing hospital infrastructure): AI optimizes hospital operations but does not reduce the need for physical infrastructure.
Option 4 (Eliminating need for patient records): AI actually depends on comprehensive patient records and data; it does not eliminate them — it uses them more effectively.