SSC Selection Post 2025 26 July 2025 Shift 2 GK Questions – with answers & solutions

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Palaeontology
Palaeontology (also spelled Paleontology) is the branch of geology and biology that deals with the study of fossils — the preserved remains, traces, or imprints of ancient organisms — to understand the history of life on Earth. It covers the evolution of flora and fauna, past ecosystems, and ancient environments. Notable contributions include discovering dinosaur fossils, early human ancestors, and evidence of mass extinctions.
Option 1 (Petrology): The study of rocks — their origin, composition, structure, and classification. Not focused on fossils or life forms.
Option 2 (Mineralogy): The study of minerals — their physical and chemical properties, crystal structure, and occurrence. Not focused on ancient life.
Option 4 (Geochronology): The science of determining the age of rocks, fossils, and sediments using methods like radiometric dating. It deals with geological time but is focused on dating, not studying life forms.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Roads, railways, airports, and waterways
The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is an EU policy aimed at creating a multimodal transport network across Europe. It encompasses multiple modes of transport: road networks (motorways, expressways), railway networks (high-speed and conventional), inland waterways and maritime ports, airports, and intermodal logistics hubs. TEN-T aims to connect European cities, ports, and logistics centers through integrated corridors combining all these transport modes.
Option 1 (Roads and railways only): TEN-T covers more than just roads and railways; airports and waterways are also included.
Option 3 (Railways and airports only): Roads and waterways are also part of TEN-T; this is incomplete.
Option 4 (Waterways and pipelines only): While waterways are included, pipelines are not a TEN-T transport mode; roads, railways, and airports are all included.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – The pattern of how people are spread across a given area
Spatial distribution of population refers to the pattern of how human populations are spread or distributed across a geographical area (country, region, or the world). It shows where people live — densely populated areas (river valleys, coastal plains, deltas) versus sparsely populated areas (deserts, high mountains, dense forests). Population density (persons per sq km) is the key metric used to measure spatial distribution.
Option 1 (Rural to urban movement): This describes rural-urban migration, a component of population mobility/migration; not spatial distribution.
Option 3 (Ratio of males to females): This is the Sex Ratio (males per 1000 females or vice versa); a demographic measure, not spatial distribution.
Option 4 (Fertility rate): The average number of children born per woman; a vital rate/demographic measure, not spatial distribution.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (UP) is the largest producer of sugarcane in India, accounting for approximately 40–45% of India's total sugarcane production. UP has the most sugar mills in India and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab region provides ideal conditions for sugarcane cultivation. Key sugarcane-growing districts include Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, and Bareilly.
Option 1 (Maharashtra): The second-largest sugarcane producer, known for high-yield sugarcane in Kolhapur and Pune regions; also India's second-largest sugar producer.
Option 3 (Punjab): Primarily known for wheat and rice cultivation; not a major sugarcane producer.
Option 4 (Tamil Nadu): A significant sugarcane producer in southern India (Coimbatore, Erode regions) but not the largest nationally.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Break down waste materials and cellular debris
Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles found in animal cells containing digestive enzymes (hydrolases) that break down waste materials, cellular debris, foreign particles (bacteria), worn-out organelles (autophagy), and macromolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids). They are called the 'suicide bags' of the cell (term coined by Christian de Duve) because if their membrane ruptures, the released enzymes can digest the cell itself.
Option 1 (Transport proteins): Proteins are transported via the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus; not lysosomes.
Option 3 (Produce ATP): ATP is produced by mitochondria through cellular respiration; lysosomes have no role in ATP synthesis.
Option 4 (Synthesize lipids): Lipid synthesis occurs in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum; not lysosomes.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Om Birla
Om Birla, the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha (elected June 2024), inaugurated and addressed the 85th All India Presiding Officers' Conference held in Patna, Bihar on January 20, 2025. The All India Presiding Officers' Conference brings together Speakers and Chairpersons of the Parliament and State/UT Legislatures to discuss legislative procedures and parliamentary matters.
Option 1 (Venkaiah Naidu): Former Vice President of India (2017–2022) and ex-Chairman of Rajya Sabha; not the current Lok Sabha Speaker.
Option 2 (Jagdeep Dhankhar): Current Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha; he did not inaugurate the conference as Lok Sabha Speaker.
Option 4 (Harivansh Singh): Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; not the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Economic and technical cooperation
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), established on June 6, 1997, is a regional grouping of seven countries (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan) whose primary focus is economic and technical cooperation across multiple sectors including: trade and investment, technology, energy, transport and communication, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and cultural cooperation. It aims to accelerate economic growth and social progress in the Bay of Bengal region.
Option 1 (Military cooperation): BIMSTEC is not a military alliance; while security cooperation exists (anti-terrorism, counter-narcotics), the primary mandate is economic.
Option 3 (Space exploration): Space exploration is not a BIMSTEC mandate; it is handled by national agencies and bilateral arrangements.
Option 4 (Cultural exchange): Cultural cooperation is a component of BIMSTEC but not its primary focus; economic and technical cooperation is central.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Janmashtami
Janmashtami (also called Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami) celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (typically August/September). It is observed with fasting, midnight prayers (as Krishna was born at midnight), devotional singing (bhajans), dahi-handi celebrations, and enactments of Krishna's life.
Option 2 (Ganesh Chaturthi): Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha on the fourth day of Bhadrapada; not Krishna.
Option 3 (Ram Navami): Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama (seventh avatar of Vishnu) on the ninth day of Chaitra month.
Option 4 (Navratri): Nine-night festival celebrating the goddess Durga and her nine manifestations; not related to Krishna's birth.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
'Wings of Fire: An Autobiography' (1999) was authored by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam), co-written with Arun Tiwari. The book covers Kalam's life from his humble origins in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to his pivotal role in India's missile and space programs (PSLV, SLV-3, Agni, Prithvi missiles). Kalam later served as the 11th President of India (2002–2007) and is fondly known as the 'Missile Man of India.'
Option 1 (Dr. Manmohan Singh): Former Prime Minister; his autobiography is 'Changing India'; not 'Wings of Fire.'
Option 3 (Jawaharlal Nehru): Wrote 'Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of World History'; not 'Wings of Fire.'
Option 4 (C.V. Raman): Nobel Prize-winning physicist; known for the Raman Effect; he did not write 'Wings of Fire.'

Correct Answer: Option 2 – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
The Trade and Development Board (TDB) is the executive body of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), headquartered in Geneva. The TDB meets several times a year to oversee UNCTAD's work program and activities between the full UNCTAD Conferences (held every four years). UNCTAD was established in 1964 to promote international trade and economic development, particularly for developing countries.
Option 1 (WTO): The World Trade Organization's governing body is the General Council and Ministerial Conference; the TDB is not under WTO.
Option 3 (IMF): The IMF's governing bodies are the Board of Governors and Executive Board; not the Trade and Development Board.
Option 4 (World Bank): The World Bank's governing body is its Board of Governors and Board of Executive Directors; the TDB is not under the World Bank.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – 1900
India first participated in the modern Olympic Games in 1900 at the Paris Olympics (2nd modern Olympiad). India sent one athlete — Norman Pritchard (an Anglo-Indian) — who competed in athletics events (100m, 200m sprint, 110m hurdles, 200m hurdles). He won two silver medals (in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles), making India's first Olympic medal winners.
Option 2 (1920): India (then British India) participated more formally with a larger team at the Antwerp Olympics 1920; but first participation was 1900.
Option 3 (1928): India's field hockey team debuted at the Amsterdam Olympics 1928 and won the first of its 8 Olympic gold medals in hockey; but India first participated in 1900.
Option 4 (1948): India participated in the London Olympics 1948 as an independent nation for the first time post-Independence; but Olympic participation began in 1900.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – NADA
NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) is India's national body responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring India's anti-doping program in sports. NADA conducts doping tests (in-competition and out-of-competition), maintains the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) of elite athletes, and adjudicates anti-doping rule violations. It works in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Option 1 (IOA): The Indian Olympic Association governs India's Olympic participation and sports federations; it does not conduct doping tests.
Option 2 (AIFF): The All India Football Federation governs football in India; it does not conduct national doping tests for all athletes.
Option 4 (BCCI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India governs cricket; it has its own anti-doping framework but NADA is the national-level anti-doping body across all sports.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Infrastructure
The BRICS Business Council, established in 2013, promotes private sector engagement among BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Infrastructure is one of the key sectors the Council focuses on, alongside manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, digital economy, and financial services. Infrastructure development (transportation networks, smart cities, ports, energy infrastructure) is crucial for BRICS economies' growth and connectivity.
Option 1 (Tourism): While tourism cooperation exists within BRICS, it is not the primary key sector of the Business Council.
Option 3 (Fashion): Fashion/textiles is not a primary focus area of the BRICS Business Council.
Option 4 (Entertainment): Entertainment is not a major focus sector of the BRICS Business Council.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Sports performance
The World Happiness Report's Happiness Index evaluates countries based on: GDP per capita (economic status), social support (having someone to count on), healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Environmental conditions (air quality, access to nature) are considered in related well-being indices. Sports performance of a nation is NOT a factor in the Happiness Index.
Option 1 (Economic status): GDP per capita is a key factor; economic prosperity contributes to happiness.
Option 2 (Social support): A core factor — having friends, family, and community to rely on in times of need.
Option 4 (Environmental conditions): Environmental quality (clean air, natural environment access) is considered in well-being and happiness research, often as a subsidiary factor.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – The central bank directly finances the government by purchasing its debt
Debt monetization (also called 'printing money' or 'monetary financing') occurs when a central bank (like RBI in India) directly purchases government bonds/securities/debt instruments — effectively financing government expenditure by creating new money. This increases the money supply in the economy. In India, the RBI's Ways and Means Advances (WMA) and Open Market Operations (OMO) involve purchasing government securities. Debt monetization can stimulate the economy but risks inflation if overdone.
Option 2 (Increasing interest rates): Raising interest rates is a contractionary monetary policy tool to reduce inflation; it is the opposite of debt monetization.
Option 3 (Government borrows from foreign countries): External borrowing involves foreign lenders (like IMF, World Bank, or foreign governments); not debt monetization.
Option 4 (Reducing money supply): Reducing money supply (through selling securities, raising CRR) is contractionary; debt monetization INCREASES money supply.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in the price level of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by households over time. It is the primary measure of inflation/deflation in an economy. In India, CPI is published monthly by the National Statistical Office (NSO) and covers items like food, beverages, clothing, housing, fuel, and miscellaneous goods. The RBI uses CPI as the benchmark for its inflation targeting mandate (currently 4% ± 2%).
Option 2 (GDP): Gross Domestic Product measures the total monetary value of all goods and services produced in a country in a given period; it measures economic output, not price levels.
Option 3 (Gini Coefficient): Measures income/wealth inequality within a population (0 = perfect equality, 1 = perfect inequality); not a price level measure.
Option 4 (Balance of Payments): Records all economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world (current account, capital account); not a domestic price level measure.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Demand curve
The Demand curve is a graphical representation in microeconomics showing the inverse relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded, holding all other factors constant (ceteris paribus). It typically slopes downward from left to right, reflecting the Law of Demand — as price falls, quantity demanded rises, and vice versa.
Option 1 (Supply curve): The Supply curve shows the relationship between price and quantity SUPPLIED — it slopes upward (as price rises, suppliers are willing to supply more).
Option 3 (Production curve): Also called the Production Possibility Curve/Frontier; shows trade-offs between producing two goods with given resources; not price vs. quantity demanded.
Option 4 (Cost curve): Shows the relationship between a firm's output and its production costs (average cost, marginal cost); not price vs. quantity demanded.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Buddhist
The Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is one of the oldest stone structures in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1989). It is associated with Buddhist architectural tradition. The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to enshrine relics of the Buddha. It features elaborate carved gateways (toranas) depicting scenes from the Buddha's life and Jataka tales.
Option 1 (Hindu): Hindu architecture is characterized by temple towers (shikharas), mandapas, and sanctum sanctorums; the Sanchi Stupa is Buddhist.
Option 2 (Jain): Jain architecture features distinctive stepped pyramidal towers; the Sanchi Stupa is not a Jain monument.
Option 4 (Mughal): Mughal architecture (domes, minarets, pietra dura) developed in the 16th–17th centuries CE; over 1,800 years after Sanchi.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – It becomes 9 times
Kinetic Energy (KE) = ½mv². If velocity v is tripled (v becomes 3v): New KE = ½m(3v)² = ½m × 9v² = 9 × (½mv²) = 9 × original KE. Therefore, kinetic energy becomes 9 times the original. This shows that KE is proportional to the square of velocity; doubling velocity quadruples KE, tripling velocity increases KE nine times.
Option 1 (6 times): Incorrect; KE ∝ v², not v. Tripling v means KE × 3² = × 9, not × 6.
Option 3 (3 times): Incorrect; if KE were proportional to v (not v²), it would triple. But KE ∝ v², so it increases 9 times.
Option 4 (12 times): Incorrect; 12 has no mathematical basis for this calculation.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Sikandar Lodhi
Sikandar Lodhi (ruled 1489–1517), the second sultan of the Lodhi dynasty, founded the city of Agra in 1504 and shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra. He was a capable administrator who promoted trade and commerce, and significantly expanded the Delhi Sultanate's territory. He was also known for strict enforcement of orthodox Islamic practices. Agra later became the Mughal capital under Akbar.
Option 2 (Ibrahim Lodhi): The last Lodhi sultan (1517–1526) who was defeated and killed at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) by Babur; he maintained Agra as capital (which his father Sikandar had established).
Option 3 (Bahlul Lodhi): Founder of the Lodhi dynasty (1451–1489); ruled from Delhi and did not shift the capital to Agra.
Option 4 (Daulat Khan Lodhi): Governor of Punjab under the Lodhis who invited Babur to invade India; not a sultan who shifted the capital.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Battle of Panipat (1526)
The First Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526 between Babur (founder of the Mughal Empire) and Ibrahim Lodhi (the last sultan of the Delhi Sultanate). Babur's superior tactics — use of artillery (firearms), flanking maneuvers, and the tulughma formation — decisively defeated Ibrahim Lodhi's numerically superior army. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed in battle, ending the Lodhi dynasty and establishing Mughal rule in India.
Option 1 (Battle of Khanwa): Fought in 1527 between Babur and Rana Sanga (Rajput Confederation); after Panipat, not the battle against Ibrahim Lodhi.
Option 3 (Battle of Chausa): Fought in 1539 between Sher Shah Suri and Humayun (Babur's son); not involving Ibrahim Lodhi.
Option 4 (Battle of Ghagra): Fought in 1529 between Babur and the Afghan confederacy of Bengal and Bihar; not involving Ibrahim Lodhi.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Part III
Fundamental Rights are outlined in Part III (Articles 12–35) of the Indian Constitution. They include: Right to Equality (Articles 14–18), Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22), Right against Exploitation (Articles 23–24), Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28), Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30), and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32). These rights are justiciable (enforceable by courts) and are core to Indian democracy.
Option 1 (Part I): Deals with the Union and its Territory (Articles 1–4); not Fundamental Rights.
Option 2 (Part II): Deals with Citizenship (Articles 5–11); not Fundamental Rights.
Option 4 (Part IV): Deals with Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51); these are non-justiciable guidelines for governance, not Fundamental Rights.

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Union Law
Under Article 254 of the Indian Constitution, when there is a conflict/repugnancy between a Union (Central) law and a State law on a subject in the Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule), the Union law prevails (Parliamentary law takes precedence). The State law becomes void to the extent of its inconsistency with the Union law. However, if the President assents to a State law that is repugnant to a Central law, the State law may prevail in that state.
Option 1 (State Law): State law yields to Union law in case of conflict on Concurrent List subjects.
Option 2 (Judiciary): The judiciary interprets and adjudicates conflicts but does not legislate; the Constitution itself specifies that Union law prevails.
Option 3 (President's Order): Presidential assent may allow a State law to prevail in specific cases, but the general constitutional rule is that Union law takes precedence.