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Books and Authors PYQs – Static GK, SSC & Railway

298 Books and Authors (Static GK) questions asked in recent SSC and Railway exams, newest first, with exam, date & shift, answers and solutions – page 2 of 3.

📚 298 questionsSSC 266 · Railway 32
123
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 5 January 2026 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q101. The White Tiger, a satirical critique of modern Indian society and economic inequality, won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. Who is the author of this novel?

  1. (a) Aravind Adiga
  2. (b) Chetan Bhagat
  3. (c) Ruskin Bond
  4. (d) Vikram Chandra
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Aravind Adiga

The correct answer is (a) Aravind Adiga.
Aravind Adiga's debut novel The White Tiger won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. The novel is a first-person narrative of Balram Halwai, a servant who rises from poverty to become an entrepreneur, offering a satirical critique of modern India's class divisions and economic inequality.
(b) Chetan Bhagat: Popular Indian author of books like 5 Point Someone and 2 States; has not won the Booker Prize.
(c) Ruskin Bond: Renowned author of Indian children's literature and short stories; not the author of The White Tiger.
(d) Vikram Chandra: Author of Sacred Games and Love and Longing in Bombay; not the author of The White Tiger.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 5 January 2026 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q102. Which contemporary Indian author wrote An Era of Darkness, a detailed critique of British colonial rule that expands on his widely acclaimed Oxford Union speech arguing against the myth of benevolent imperialism?

  1. (a) Shashi Tharoor
  2. (b) Ramachandra Guha
  3. (c) Gurcharan Das
  4. (d) Pavan Varma
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Shashi Tharoor

The correct answer is (a) Shashi Tharoor.
Shashi Tharoor wrote An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India (2016), a detailed critique of British colonialism that expanded upon his famous 2015 Oxford Union debate speech where he argued that Britain owed India reparations. The book argues against the narrative of 'benevolent imperialism.'
(b) Ramachandra Guha: Renowned historian and author of India After Gandhi and Gandhi Before India; not the author of An Era of Darkness.
(c) Gurcharan Das: Author of India Unbound and The Difficulty of Being Good; not the author of An Era of Darkness.
(d) Pavan Varma: Author of Being Indian and Chanakya's New Manifesto; not the author of An Era of Darkness.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 5 January 2026 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q103. Who authored The Sea of Poppies, a historical novel exploring opium trade, colonial exploitation, and migration in India prior to the First Opium War?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Shashi Tharoor
  4. (d) Rohinton Mistry
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amitav Ghosh

The correct answer is (a) Amitav Ghosh.
Amitav Ghosh wrote The Sea of Poppies (2008), the first book of his Ibis Trilogy. The novel explores the opium trade in colonial India, the cultivation of poppies by indentured farmers in Bihar, and the migration of indentured laborers. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
(b) Vikram Seth: Author of A Suitable Boy and The Golden Gate; not associated with The Sea of Poppies.
(c) Shashi Tharoor: Known for political non-fiction and novels like The Great Indian Novel; not the author of The Sea of Poppies.
(d) Rohinton Mistry: Canadian-Indian author known for A Fine Balance and Such a Long Journey; not the author of The Sea of Poppies.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 5 January 2026 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q104. Which author is known for the novel A House for Mr Biswas, portraying the struggles of identity, family, and colonial legacies in Indo-Caribbean life?

  1. (a) V.S. Naipaul
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Rohinton Mistry
  4. (d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) V.S. Naipaul

The correct answer is (a) V.S. Naipaul.
V.S. Naipaul ( Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, 1932-2018) wrote A House for Mr Biswas (1961), considered his masterpiece. The novel portrays the life of Mohun Biswas, a man of Indian descent in Trinidad, struggling to establish his own identity and own a house — a metaphor for independence and self-determination in a post-colonial society. Naipaul won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001.
(b) Salman Rushdie: Indian-British author known for Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses; not the author of A House for Mr Biswas.
(c) Rohinton Mistry: Canadian-Indian author known for A Fine Balance (set in India); not the author.
(d) Jhumpa Lahiri: Known for The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies; not the author of A House for Mr Biswas.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 5 January 2026 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q105. Who authored The Kite Runner, a novel reflecting Afghanistan's tumultuous history, family bonds, and redemption, set against political upheaval and personal betrayal?

  1. (a) Khaled Hosseini
  2. (b) Orhan Pamuk
  3. (c) Mohsin Hamid
  4. (d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Khaled Hosseini

The correct answer is (a) Khaled Hosseini.
Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author, wrote The Kite Runner (2003). The novel follows Amir, a boy from Kabul, and his friend Hassan, set against the backdrop of Afghanistan's political upheavals from the fall of monarchy to the Taliban regime. It explores themes of betrayal, redemption, and father-son relationships.
(b) Orhan Pamuk: Turkish Nobel laureate known for Snow and My Name is Red; not the author of The Kite Runner.
(c) Mohsin Hamid: Pakistani author known for The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Exit West; not the author of The Kite Runner.
(d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Nigerian author known for Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah ; not the author of The Kite Runner.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 3 January 2026 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q106. Shuggie Bain, portraying poverty and addiction in Scotland, won the Booker Prize. Who is the author?

  1. (a) Douglas Stuart
  2. (b) Ian McEwan
  3. (c) Salman Rushdie
  4. (d) Kazuo Ishiguro
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Douglas Stuart

Douglas Stuart, a Scottish-American author, won the Booker Prize 2020 for his debut novel 'Shuggie Bain'. The novel depicts the struggles of a young boy growing up in 1980s Glasgow with a mother battling alcoholism, set against the backdrop of deindustrialisation and poverty in Scotland.
(a) Incorrect: Ian McEwan is a celebrated British author known for 'Atonement' and 'Saturday'; he has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize but did not write Shuggie Bain.
(b) Incorrect: Salman Rushdie won the Booker Prize for 'Midnight's Children' (1981) and is known for 'The Satanic Verses'; he did not write Shuggie Bain.
(c) Incorrect: Kazuo Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize in Literature (2017) and Booker Prize for 'The Remains of the Day'; he did not write Shuggie Bain.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 3 January 2026 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q107. Who wrote Home Fire, a modern retelling of the Antigone myth, addressing family, identity, and political extremism?

  1. (a) Kamila Shamsie
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) Kiran Desai
  4. (d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Kamila Shamsie

Kamila Shamsie, a British-Pakistani author, wrote 'Home Fire' (2017), a modern retelling of Sophocles' Antigone set in London and Syria, exploring themes of family, British Muslim identity, and ISIS-related political extremism. It won the Women's Prize for Fiction 2018.
(a) Incorrect: Arundhati Roy is the Indian author of 'The God of Small Things' (Booker Prize 1997) and 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness'; she did not write Home Fire.
(b) Incorrect: Kiran Desai won the Booker Prize for 'The Inheritance of Loss' (2006) and is the daughter of Anita Desai; she did not write Home Fire.
(c) Incorrect: Jhumpa Lahiri is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for 'Interpreter of Maladies' and 'The Namesake'; she did not write Home Fire.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 3 January 2026 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q108. Who authored 'Midnight is a Place', a historical novel set in Victorian England, focusing on society, class, and human relationships?

  1. (a) Joan Aiken
  2. (b) Enid Blyton
  3. (c) J.K. Rowling
  4. (d) Philip Pullman
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Joan Aiken

'Midnight is a Place' (1974) is a historical novel by Joan Aiken, set in 19th-century industrial England. It explores themes of society, class disparity, and human relationships through the story of two children.
(a) Incorrect: Enid Blyton wrote children's fiction like Famous Five and Secret Seven, not 'Midnight is a Place'.
(b) Incorrect: J.K. Rowling is best known for the Harry Potter series, not for historical novels set in Victorian England.
(c) Incorrect: Philip Pullman is known for 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, not 'Midnight is a Place'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 3 January 2026 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q109. Who wrote 'The Namesake', a novel exploring the Indian diaspora in America, family identity, and generational conflicts?

  1. (a) Jhumpa Lahiri
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) Kiran Desai
  4. (d) Anita Desai
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Jhumpa Lahiri

'The Namesake' (2003) is a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, exploring the experiences of an Indian immigrant family in America, themes of cultural identity, belonging, and generational conflict.
(a) Incorrect: Arundhati Roy authored 'The God of Small Things' (1997), not 'The Namesake'.
(b) Incorrect: Kiran Desai won the Man Booker Prize for 'The Inheritance of Loss' (2006), not 'The Namesake'.
(c) Incorrect: Anita Desai is a renowned Indian writer known for works like 'Clear Light of Day', not 'The Namesake'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 3 January 2026 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q110. Who authored 'Atonement', a novel adapted into an Oscar-winning film, exploring love, guilt, and the consequences of false accusations?

  1. (a) Ian McEwan
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Kazuo Ishiguro
  4. (d) Julian Barnes
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Ian McEwan

'Atonement' (2001) is a celebrated novel by British author Ian McEwan. It was adapted into an Oscar-winning film (2007), exploring themes of love, guilt, false accusation, and the devastating consequences of a young girl's lie.
(a) Incorrect: Salman Rushdie is known for 'Midnight's Children' and 'The Satanic Verses', not 'Atonement'.
(b) Incorrect: Kazuo Ishiguro is famous for 'The Remains of the Day' and 'Never Let Me Go', not 'Atonement'.
(c) Incorrect: Julian Barnes is the author of 'The Sense of an Ending' and other works, not 'Atonement'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 2 January 2026 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q111. Who wrote Sea of Poppies, the first book of the Ibis Trilogy, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Salman Rushdie
  4. (d) Aravind Adiga
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh wrote 'Sea of Poppies' (2008), the first novel in the Ibis Trilogy set during the era of the opium trade before the First Opium War. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.
(a) Incorrect: Vikram Seth is known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate', not the Ibis Trilogy.
(b) Incorrect: Salman Rushdie is known for 'Midnight's Children' (Booker Prize 1981) and 'The Satanic Verses'.
(c) Incorrect: Aravind Adiga won the Booker Prize 2008 for 'The White Tiger', not 'Sea of Poppies'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 2 January 2026 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q112. Who authored The Kite Runner, a novel exploring friendship, betrayal, and Afghanistan's historical turmoil, emphasizing personal redemption against a backdrop of war and political upheaval?

  1. (a) Khaled Hosseini
  2. (b) Orhan Pamuk
  3. (c) Chimamanda Adichie
  4. (d) Mohsin Hamid
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author, wrote 'The Kite Runner' (2003). Set in Afghanistan from the 1970s through the Taliban era, it explores themes of friendship, guilt, redemption, and father-son relationships. It became an international bestseller.
(a) Incorrect: Orhan Pamuk is a Turkish author and Nobel Prize laureate (2006), known for 'My Name is Red' and 'Snow'; he did not write The Kite Runner.
(b) Incorrect: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for 'Half of a Yellow Sun' and ' Americanah '; she did not write The Kite Runner.
(c) Incorrect: Mohsin Hamid is a Pakistani author known for 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' and 'Exit West'; he did not write The Kite Runner.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 30 December 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q113. Nobel laureate who authored "Disgrace", often cited as one of the finest post- apartheid works?

  1. (a) Nadine Gordimer
  2. (b) J.M. Coetzee
  3. (c) Wole Soyinka
  4. (d) Imre Kertesz
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) J.M. Coetzee

J.M. Coetzee (John Maxwell Coetzee), the South African-born Nobel laureate in Literature (2003), authored "Disgrace" (1999). The novel is widely considered one of the finest works of post-apartheid South African literature and won the Booker Prize in 1999, making Coetzee the first author to win the Booker Prize twice.
(a) Incorrect: Nadine Gordimer is a South African Nobel laureate (1991) who wrote "July's People" and "Burger's Daughter"; she did not write "Disgrace".
(c) Incorrect: Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian Nobel laureate (1986) known for plays and poetry; he did not write "Disgrace".
(d) Incorrect: Imre Kertesz is a Hungarian Nobel laureate (2002) known for " Fatelessness ", a Holocaust novel; he did not write "Disgrace".
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 30 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q114. The novel "The Serpent and the Rope," which integrates Indian metaphysics with Western thought, was written by:

  1. (a) K.K. Narayan
  2. (b) Raja Rao
  3. (c) Arun Joshi
  4. (d) Nirad C. Chaudhuri
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Raja Rao

"The Serpent and the Rope" (1960) was written by Raja Rao, one of the most celebrated Indian English novelists. The novel integrates Indian philosophy (particularly Advaita Vedanta — the concept of Maya, where the world is an illusion like a rope mistaken for a serpent) with Western intellectual tradition, exploring the spiritual quest of a young Indian scholar in France.
(a) Incorrect: K.K. Narayan (R.K. Narayan) is known for novels set in the fictional Malgudi (e.g., Swami and Friends, The Guide); he did not write "The Serpent and the Rope".
(c) Incorrect: Arun Joshi is known for "The Foreigner" and "The Strange Case of Billy Biswas"; he did not write "The Serpent and the Rope".
(d) Incorrect: Nirad C. Chaudhuri is known for "The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian"; he did not write "The Serpent and the Rope".
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 30 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q115. Which Indian author wrote the internationally acclaimed novel Midnight's Children, which won the Booker Prize in 1981?

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Arundhati Roy
  4. (d) Kiran Desai
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie wrote 'Midnight's Children' (1981), which won the Booker Prize. The novel's protagonist Saleem Sinai is born at the exact moment of India's independence, intertwining his life with the nation's history.
(a) Incorrect: Vikram Seth is known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate,' not 'Midnight's Children.'
(c) Incorrect: Arundhati Roy wrote 'The God of Small Things,' which won the Booker Prize in 1997, not 'Midnight's Children.'
(d) Incorrect: Kiran Desai wrote 'The Inheritance of Loss,' which won the Booker Prize in 2006.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 30 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q116. The novel "The Last Labyrinth", known for its psychological complexity, was written by:

  1. (a) U. R. Ananthamurthy
  2. (b) Manohar Shyam Joshi
  3. (c) Arun Joshi
  4. (d) O. V. Vijayan
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Arun Joshi

'The Last Labyrinth' is a novel by Arun Joshi, an Indian English novelist known for his existentialist themes and psychological depth. The novel explores themes of love, obsession, and spiritual quest.
(a) Incorrect: U. R. Ananthamurthy was a Kannada writer known for works like 'Samskara'; he did not write 'The Last Labyrinth.'
(b) Incorrect: Manohar Shyam Joshi was a Hindi writer known for works like 'Kuru Kuru Swaha', not this novel.
(d) Incorrect: O. V. Vijayan was a Malayalam writer known for 'The Legends of Khasak', not 'The Last Labyrinth.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 30 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q117. The Night Circus, a fantasy novel about magical competitions and romance, was authored by whom?

  1. (a) Erin Morgenstern
  2. (b) J.K. Rowling
  3. (c) Philip Pullman
  4. (d) Neil Gaiman
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Erin Morgenstern

'The Night Circus' (2011) was written by American author Erin Morgenstern. The novel is set in a mysterious black-and-white circus that only appears at night, featuring two young magicians competing in a magical duel.
(b) Incorrect: J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series, not 'The Night Circus.'
(c) Incorrect: Philip Pullman is known for 'His Dark Materials' trilogy (The Golden Compass, etc.), not 'The Night Circus.'
(d) Incorrect: Neil Gaiman is known for 'American Gods,' 'Good Omens,' and 'Coraline,' but not 'The Night Circus.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q118. The author-translator duo of Geetanjali Shree and Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize for which book?

  1. (a) At Night All Blood Is Black
  2. (b) Tomb of Sand
  3. (c) The Discomfort of Evening
  4. (d) Flights
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Tomb of Sand

Geetanjali Shree (author) and Daisy Rockwell (translator) won the International Booker Prize 2022 for 'Tomb of Sand,' originally written in Hindi as 'Ret Samadhi.' It was the first Hindi-language novel to win this prestigious prize.
(a) Incorrect: 'At Night All Blood Is Black' by David Diop won the 2021 International Booker Prize.
(c) Incorrect: 'The Discomfort of Evening' by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld won the 2020 International Booker Prize.
(d) Incorrect: 'Flights' by Olga Tokarczuk won the 2018 International Booker Prize.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q119. Which theme is highlighted in "Fire Bird," the winner of the JCB Prize for Literature 2023, published by Penguin Random House India?

  1. (a) Meteorological science
  2. (b) Rural displacement and land loss
  3. (c) Genetic modification
  4. (d) Indo-Persian architecture
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Rural displacement and land loss

'Fire Bird' by Perumal Murugan (translated by N. Kalyan Raman), published by Penguin Random House India, won the JCB Prize for Literature 2023. The novel highlights themes of rural displacement, land loss, and caste-based oppression in rural Tamil Nadu, following the story of a young man navigating social hierarchies.
(a) Incorrect: Meteorological science is not the theme of the novel.
(c) Incorrect: Genetic modification is not related to the novel's theme.
(d) Incorrect: Indo-Persian architecture is not a theme in this novel.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q120. Hilary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell trilogy includes which of the following novels?

  1. (a) Wolf Hall
  2. (b) Bring Up the Bodies
  3. (c) The Mirror and the Light
  4. (d) All of the above
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) All of the above

Hilary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell trilogy consists of: Wolf Hall (2009, Booker Prize winner), Bring Up the Bodies (2012, Booker Prize winner), and The Mirror and the Light (2020). All three novels trace the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to King Henry VIII of England.
(a) Incorrect: Wolf Hall alone is only the first novel of the trilogy.
(b) Incorrect: Bring Up the Bodies alone is only the second novel.
(c) Incorrect: The Mirror and the Light alone is only the third novel.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q121. Which translator became the first to translate a Hindi-language novel that won the International Booker Prize?

  1. (a) Arunava Sinha
  2. (b) Daisy Rockwell
  3. (c) Deepa Bhasthi
  4. (d) Lakshmi Holmstrom
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Daisy Rockwell

Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize 2022 for her English translation of Geetanjali Shree's Hindi novel 'Ret Samadhi' (Tomb of Sand). It was the first Hindi-language novel to win the International Booker Prize. Daisy Rockwell is an American writer, artist, and translator specialising in South Asian literature.
(a) Incorrect: Arunava Sinha is a well-known translator from Bengali, not the first Hindi-to-English Booker winner.
(c) Incorrect: Deepa Bhasthi is a Kannada-to-English translator; she won the 2025 International Booker for 'Tomb of Sand' is incorrectly attributed — it was Daisy Rockwell.
(d) Incorrect: Lakshmi Holmstrom was a Tamil-to-English translator and is not the International Booker Prize winner for Hindi.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q122. The novel 'A Bend in the Ganges', which depicts the impact of India's partition and communal violence, was authored by?

  1. (a) Manohar Malgonkar
  2. (b) Bhabani Bhattacharya
  3. (c) B. Rajan
  4. (d) Shashi Deshpande
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Manohar Malgonkar

'A Bend in the Ganges' (1964) was written by Manohar Malgonkar, an Indian novelist known for his portrayal of colonial and post-independence India. The novel traces the lives of two friends with different ideological beliefs — one a follower of Gandhi, the other a revolutionary — against the backdrop of India's freedom struggle and the horrors of Partition.
(b) Incorrect: Bhabani Bhattacharya wrote 'So Many Hungers' (about the Bengal famine), not 'A Bend in the Ganges'.
(c) Incorrect: B. Rajan did not author this novel.
(d) Incorrect: Shashi Deshpande is known for novels like 'That Long Silence'; she did not write 'A Bend in the Ganges'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q123. Which novel by Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah (Nobel Prize in Literature 2021) explores the effects of colonialism and its aftermath in East Africa?

  1. (a) Afterlives
  2. (b) Tomb of Sand
  3. (c) The Paradise of Food
  4. (d) Requiem in Raga Janki
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Afterlives

'Afterlives' (2020) by Abdulrazak Gurnah explores the legacy of colonialism in East Africa, set around the time of World War I and its aftermath. Gurnah, born in Zanzibar (Tanzania), was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 for his 'uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee.'
(b) Incorrect: 'Tomb of Sand' (Ret Samadhi) is a Hindi novel by Geetanjali Shree that won the International Booker Prize 2022, not a work by Gurnah.
(c) Incorrect: 'The Paradise of Food' is a novel by Khalid Jawed, not Abdulrazak Gurnah.
(d) Incorrect: 'Requiem in Raga Janki' is a novel by Vibha Rani, not by Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q124. The novel 'Half of a Yellow Sun', depicting the Nigerian Biafran War, was written by:

  1. (a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  2. (b) Ngugi wa Thiong'o
  3. (c) Wole Soyinka
  4. (d) Chinua Achebe
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

'Half of a Yellow Sun' (2006) was written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian author and feminist. The novel depicts the Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War, 1967-70) through three characters — twin sisters and a British man — exploring love, culture, politics, and the tragedy of conflict. It won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007.
(b) Incorrect: Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan author known for 'Weep Not, Child' and 'A Grain of Wheat'.
(c) Incorrect: Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian Nobel Prize-winning playwright, not the author of this novel.
(d) Incorrect: Chinua Achebe wrote 'Things Fall Apart'; 'Half of a Yellow Sun' is by Adichie.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 29 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q125. Who wrote 'The Remains of the Day', a novel examining memory, duty, and personal regret through the reflections of a British butler on his past life?

  1. (a) Kazuo Ishiguro
  2. (b) Ian McEwan
  3. (c) Salman Rushdie
  4. (d) Haruki Murakami
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Kazuo Ishiguro

'The Remains of the Day' (1989) was written by Kazuo Ishiguro, a British-Japanese novelist. The novel follows Stevens, an English butler who reflects on his devoted service to a morally compromised employer, exploring themes of memory, duty, emotional repression, and regret. The novel won the Booker Prize in 1989. Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize in Literature 2017.
(b) Incorrect: Ian McEwan is a British author known for 'Atonement' and 'Saturday'; he did not write The Remains of the Day.
(c) Incorrect: Salman Rushdie is known for 'Midnight's Children' and 'The Satanic Verses'; he is not the author.
(d) Incorrect: Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for 'Norwegian Wood' and '1Q84'; he did not write this novel.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 24 December 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q126. Which country's history is the focus of the novel 'The Promise' by Damon Galgut, which won the Booker Prize in 2021?

  1. (a) South Africa
  2. (b) India
  3. (c) France
  4. (d) Brazil
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) South Africa

The correct answer is South Africa (Option 1).
Damon Galgut's 'The Promise', which won the Booker Prize in 2021, is set in South Africa and focuses on the history and internal dynamics of a white Afrikaner family over several decades. The novel explores themes of racial inequality, broken promises, family dysfunction, and the legacy of apartheid.
Option 2 - India: Damon Galgut is a South African author and 'The Promise' is firmly set in South Africa, not India.
Option 3 - France: France is not the setting or historical focus of 'The Promise'.
Option 4 - Brazil: The novel has no connection to Brazil; it is rooted in South African history and society.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 24 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q127. Which novel by Barbara Kingsolver was awarded the Women's Prize in 2023?

  1. (a) The Poisonwood Bible
  2. (b) Demon Copperhead
  3. (c) The Lacuna
  4. (d) Flight Behaviour
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Demon Copperhead

The correct answer is Demon Copperhead (Option 2).
Barbara Kingsolver's 'Demon Copperhead' won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2023. The novel reimagines Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield' set in the Appalachian region of Virginia, exploring themes of poverty, the opioid crisis, and systemic failures. It also won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2023.
Option 1 - The Poisonwood Bible: 'The Poisonwood Bible' (1998) is one of Kingsolver's earlier acclaimed novels but did not win the Women's Prize in 2023.
Option 3 - The Lacuna: 'The Lacuna' (2009) won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2010; it did not win the Women's Prize in 2023.
Option 4 - Flight Behaviour : 'Flight Behaviour ' (2012) is another of Kingsolver's novels; it did not win the Women's Prize in 2023.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 24 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q128. Which of the following novels was written by László Krasznahorkai?

  1. (a) Spadework for a Palace
  2. (b) Flesh
  3. (c) The Promise
  4. (d) Demon Copperhead
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Spadework for a Palace

The correct answer is Spadework for a Palace (Option 1).
László Krasznahorkai is a Hungarian author who wrote 'Spadework for a Palace' (originally published in Hungarian as ' Herscht 07769'). He is known for complex, philosophical novels including ' Satantango ' and 'The Melancholy of Resistance.' He won the International Booker Prize and is considered one of the great writers of contemporary European literature.
Option 2 - Flesh: 'Flesh' is not a work by László Krasznahorkai; it is associated with other authors.
Option 3 - The Promise: 'The Promise' is a novel by South African author Damon Galgut, which won the Booker Prize in 2021; it was not written by Krasznahorkai .
Option 4 - Demon Copperhead: 'Demon Copperhead' was written by American author Barbara Kingsolver and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023; it is not by Krasznahorkai .
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 24 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q129. What is the key theme of 'The Years' by Annie Ernaux, which earned her the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022?

  1. (a) Historical trauma and memory
  2. (b) Colonialism and diaspora
  3. (c) Gender identity struggles
  4. (d) Postmodern existentialism
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Historical trauma and memory

The correct answer is Historical trauma and memory (Option 1).
'The Years' (Les Années , 2008) by Annie Ernaux is a collective autobiography that traces French history and personal/collective memory from post-WWII to the early 21st century. The key theme is historical trauma, collective memory, and how both personal and societal memories are formed, preserved, and lost over time. It blends autobiography with social history.
Option 2 - Colonialism and diaspora: While Ernaux touches on social issues, 'The Years' is primarily about collective memory of France, not colonialism or diaspora narratives.
Option 3 - Gender identity struggles: While Ernaux's work broadly deals with class and gender, 'The Years' specifically centres on collective memory and historical experience, not gender identity.
Option 4 - Postmodern existentialism: 'The Years' is a sociological and autobiographical work, not primarily a philosophical exploration of existentialism.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 23 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q130. Which author won the Sahitya Akademi Award in Punjabi for the work "Ba Mulahaza Hoshiar" in 1976?

  1. (a) Narenderpal Singh
  2. (b) Prabhjot Kaur
  3. (c) Amrita Pritam
  4. (d) Surjit Patar
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Narenderpal Singh

The correct answer is Narenderpal Singh (Option 1).
Narenderpal Singh won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Punjabi literature in 1976 for the work 'Ba Mulahaza Hoshiar,' a significant contribution to Punjabi literary tradition.
Option 2 - Prabhjot Kaur: A noted Punjabi poetess, but not the winner of the 1976 Sahitya Akademi Award for this specific work.
Option 3 - Amrita Pritam: One of the greatest Punjabi authors, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 for ' Sunehe '; not for this work in 1976.
Option 4 - Surjit Patar: A renowned Punjabi poet who won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2012, not in 1976.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 23 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q131. The literary work 'Tamas,' centered around the Partition, was authored by:

  1. (a) Bhisham Sahni
  2. (b) Khushwant Singh
  3. (c) Saadat Hasan Manto
  4. (d) Intizar Husain
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Bhisham Sahni

The correct answer is Bhisham Sahni (Option 1).
Bhisham Sahni wrote 'Tamas' (1974), a Hindi novel depicting the communal violence and human tragedy during the Partition of India. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975 and was adapted into a celebrated TV series by Govind Nihalani.
Option 2 - Khushwant Singh: Wrote 'Train to Pakistan,' another landmark novel on Partition, but not 'Tamas.'
Option 3 - Saadat Hasan Manto: A Urdu writer famous for short stories like 'Toba Tek Singh' about Partition; he did not write 'Tamas.'
Option 4 - Intizar Husain: A Pakistani Urdu writer known for works like 'Basti'; he did not write 'Tamas.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 23 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q132. Who is the author of the book 'The Shadow Lines'?

  1. (a) Anita Desai
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Amitav Ghosh
  4. (d) Rohinton Mistry
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Amitav Ghosh

The correct answer is Amitav Ghosh (Option 3).
'The Shadow Lines' (1988) is a novel by Amitav Ghosh. It explores the nature of borders, memory, and identity across generations, set between Calcutta, Dhaka, and London, touching on events from World War II to the communal riots of the 1960s.
Option 1 - Anita Desai: A renowned Indian novelist known for 'Clear Light of Day' and 'Fasting, Feasting'; she did not write 'The Shadow Lines.'
Option 2 - Vikram Seth: Known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate'; not the author of 'The Shadow Lines.'
Option 4 - Rohinton Mistry: A Canadian-Indian author known for 'A Fine Balance' and 'Such a Long Journey'; not the author of 'The Shadow Lines.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 23 December 2025 Shift 3 · Ancient and medieval books

Q133. Who composed the 'Sangita Ratnakara' in the 13th century, a key text in both Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions?

  1. (a) Tansen
  2. (b) Swathi Thirunal
  3. (c) Sarangadeva
  4. (d) Jayadeva
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Sarangadeva

The correct answer is Sarangadeva (Option 3).
Sarangadeva composed the 'Sangita Ratnakara' (Ocean of Music) in the 13th century. It is a foundational treatise that served as a bridge text for both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music traditions, covering melody, rhythm, and aesthetics.
Option 1 - Tansen: Tansen was a renowned musician in Emperor Akbar's Navaratnas (court) in the 16th century; he did not compose the Sangita Ratnakara.
Option 2 - Swathi Thirunal: Swathi Thirunal was a 19th-century Kerala composer of Carnatic music; he lived centuries after the Sangita Ratnakara was written.
Option 4 - Jayadeva: Jayadeva composed the Gita Govinda (12th century), a devotional poem on Lord Krishna, not a music theory text.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 23 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q134. What is the central theme of The Vegetarian by Han Kang, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024?

  1. (a) The impact of war on family life
  2. (b) A woman's journey to break free from societal expectations
  3. (c) The search for eternal youth
  4. (d) A man's descent into madness
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) A woman's journey to break free from societal expectations

The correct answer is A woman's journey to break free from societal expectations (Option 2).
'The Vegetarian' by Han Kang tells the story of Yeong- hye , a South Korean woman who decides to stop eating meat after a disturbing dream. Her decision is seen as an act of rebellion against patriarchal norms and societal conformity. The novel explores themes of bodily autonomy, trauma, identity, and the violent response of those around her.
Option 1 - The impact of war on family life: This is the central theme of Han Kang's novel 'Human Acts' (2014), which deals with the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, not 'The Vegetarian'.
Option 3 - The search for eternal youth: Eternal youth is not a theme of 'The Vegetarian'; the novel focuses on autonomy and societal pressure.
Option 4 - A man's descent into madness: The protagonist of 'The Vegetarian' is a woman, Yeong- hye , not a man.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 22 December 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q135. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Overstory", noted for its ecological themes, was written by:

  1. (a) Jonathan Franzen
  2. (b) Richard Powers
  3. (c) Anthony Doerr
  4. (d) Colson Whitehead
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Richard Powers

"The Overstory" (2018) was written by Richard Powers and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019. The novel interweaves the stories of nine Americans whose lives are connected to trees, exploring themes of ecology, environmental activism, and human relationship with the natural world. Option 2 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: Jonathan Franzen is an American novelist known for 'The Corrections' (2001) and 'Freedom' (2010); he did not write 'The Overstory.'
Option 3 is wrong: Anthony Doerr is an American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2015 for 'All the Light We Cannot See' — not 'The Overstory.'
Option 4 is wrong: Colson Whitehead is an American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2017 ('The Underground Railroad') and 2020 ('The Nickel Boys'); he did not write 'The Overstory.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 22 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q136. Jason De Leon's "Soldiers and Kings" investigates which global issue?

  1. (a) Artificial intelligence regulation
  2. (b) Oceanic climate change
  3. (c) Human smuggling networks
  4. (d) Feminist political movements
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Human smuggling networks

"Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling" by Jason De Leon is an anthropological study of human smuggling networks — specifically focusing on the people who work as smugglers (coyotes) guiding migrants across the US-Mexico border. The book investigates the complex world of migration, smuggling, and survival. Option 3 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: Artificial intelligence regulation is a tech policy issue; De Leon's work is in anthropology and focuses on migration and border politics, not AI governance.
Option 2 is wrong: Oceanic climate change is an environmental science topic; "Soldiers and Kings" is a work about human migration and smuggling networks along international borders, not climate science.
Option 4 is wrong: Feminist political movements are a separate area of political sociology; De Leon's book specifically examines the underground economy of human smuggling and the lives of smugglers and migrants.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 22 December 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q137. Who wrote 'Clear Light of Day', depicting the effects of Partition on Delhi families?

  1. (a) Anita Desai
  2. (b) Kamala Markandaya
  3. (c) Shashi Deshpande
  4. (d) Manju Kapur
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Anita Desai

The correct answer is Anita Desai (Option 1).
Anita Desai wrote 'Clear Light of Day' (1980), a novel set in Old Delhi that depicts the lasting effects of the Partition of India on a middle-class family through the story of two sisters.
Option 2 - Kamala Markandaya : Known for 'Nectar in a Sieve,' which deals with rural poverty in India, not Partition's effects on Delhi families.
Option 3 - Shashi Deshpande: Known for 'That Long Silence,' which explores women's roles in Indian society, not 'Clear Light of Day.'
Option 4 - Manju Kapur: Known for 'Difficult Daughters,' set during Partition but not the author of 'Clear Light of Day.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 22 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q138. Which Booker Prize-winning author wrote 'Life of Pi', a novel blending survival adventure, philosophical reflection, and spiritual exploration centered on a boy stranded at sea?

  1. (a) Yann Martel
  2. (b) Aravind Adiga
  3. (c) Kiran Desai
  4. (d) Salman Rushdie
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Yann Martel

The correct answer is Yann Martel (Option 1).
Yann Martel, a Canadian author, wrote 'Life of Pi' (2001), which won the Booker Prize in 2002. The novel follows a young boy named Pi Patel who survives 227 days at sea on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
Option 2 - Aravind Adiga: Won the Booker Prize in 2008 for 'The White Tiger,' not 'Life of Pi.'
Option 3 - Kiran Desai: Won the Booker Prize in 2006 for 'The Inheritance of Loss.'
Option 4 - Salman Rushdie: Won the Booker Prize for 'Midnight's Children' (1981) and the Booker of Bookers; not the author of 'Life of Pi.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 20 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q139. Who is the author of the socio-philosophical work "The Religion of Man"?

  1. (a) Sarojini Naidu
  2. (b) Vinoba Bhave
  3. (c) Rabindranath Tagore
  4. (d) R. C. Dutt
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Rabindranath Tagore

"The Religion of Man" (1931) was written by Rabindranath Tagore, based on his Hibbert Lectures delivered at Oxford University in 1930. The work explores his philosophy of the divine within humanity and the spiritual dimension of human existence. Option 3 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: Sarojini Naidu (the Nightingale of India) was a celebrated poet and political leader; she did not write "The Religion of Man."
Option 2 is wrong: Vinoba Bhave was a social reformer and Gandhian leader known for the Bhoodan movement; he is not the author of this work.
Option 4 is wrong: R.C. Dutt was a civil servant, economist, and historian known for works on Indian economic history; "The Religion of Man" is not his work.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 20 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q140. Who authored "Waiting for the Mahatma", a novel examining Gandhian influence through fictional narrative?

  1. (a) Khushwant Singh
  2. (b) R. K. Narayan
  3. (c) K. S. Venkataramani
  4. (d) Rajmohan Gandhi
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) R. K. Narayan

"Waiting for the Mahatma" (1955) was written by R. K. Narayan, the celebrated Indian novelist known for his Malgudi series. The novel follows a young man named Sriram who falls in love with a girl from Gandhi's ashram and becomes involved in the independence movement. Option 2 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: Khushwant Singh authored works like "Train to Pakistan" (1956) and "A History of the Sikhs"; he did not write "Waiting for the Mahatma."
Option 3 is wrong: K. S. Venkataramani was an early Tamil writer in English; he is not the author of "Waiting for the Mahatma."
Option 4 is wrong: Rajmohan Gandhi is a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, known for non-fiction works on Gandhi; he did not write this fictional novel.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 19 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q141. The novel " Baduku " won the Sahitya Akademi Award (Kannada) in 2004. Who wrote it?

  1. (a) Geetha Nagabhushana
  2. (b) Shantinath K. Desai
  3. (c) B. Puttaswamayya
  4. (d) S.L. Bhyrappa
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Geetha Nagabhushana

The Kannada novel ' Baduku ' (Life) was written by Geetha Nagabhushana and won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Kannada in 2004. Geetha Nagabhushana is a prominent Kannada author known for her feminist and humanist perspectives in literature. ' Baduku ' explores the human condition and the complexities of life in modern society.
Option 2 is incorrect: Shantinath K. Desai won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Kannada in 2000 for 'Om Namo', not ' Baduku '.
Option 3 is incorrect: B. Puttaswamayya is a Kannada literary figure but is not the author of ' Baduku '.
Option 4 is incorrect: S.L. Bhyrappa is one of the most celebrated Kannada novelists (known for 'Parva', ' Vamshavriksha ', etc.) but he did not write ' Baduku '.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 19 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q142. Which Hindi novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2023?

  1. (a) Mujhe Pahchano
  2. (b) Yugant
  3. (c) Abhipray
  4. (d) Kya Tumne Dekha Hai
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Mujhe Pahchano

' Mujhe Pahchano ' (Recognize Me) by Hindi author Sanjeev won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi in 2023. Sanjeev (pen name) is a prominent Hindi writer known for his socially engaged fiction rooted in the lives of marginalised communities. The Sahitya Akademi Award is India's second highest literary honour , awarded annually in 24 languages recognised by the Academy.
Option 2 is incorrect: 'Yugant' is a Hindi literary work but did not win the 2023 Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi.
Option 3 is incorrect: ' Abhipray ' is not the Hindi novel that won the 2023 Sahitya Akademi Award.
Option 4 is incorrect: 'Kya Tumne Dekha Hai' did not win the 2023 Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 19 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q143. "The Home and the World" (Ghare-Baire) critically examines nationalism and women's agency. Who wrote it?

  1. (a) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
  2. (b) Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
  3. (c) Rabindranath Tagore
  4. (d) Tarashankar Bandopadhyay
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Rabindranath Tagore

'Ghare-Baire' (The Home and the World) was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1916, originally in Bengali. The novel critically examines the Swadeshi movement through a story involving three characters: Nikhil (a moderate, progressive landlord), Sandip (a charismatic nationalist leader), and Bimala (Nikhil's wife caught between them). It explores themes of nationalism, feminism, the limits of idealism, and the conflict between Western influence and Indian tradition. It was translated into English in 1919.
Option 1 is incorrect: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838–1894) wrote ' Anandamath ' and ' Durgeshnandini '; he did not write 'Ghare-Baire'. Bankim Chandra also composed the national song 'Vande Mataram '.
Option 2 is incorrect: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876–1938) wrote 'Devdas', 'Parineeta', and 'Srikanta'; he did not write 'Ghare-Baire'.
Option 4 is incorrect: Tarashankar Bandopadhyay (1898–1971) is a noted Bengali novelist known for ' Hansuli Banker Upakatha '; he did not write 'Ghare-Baire'.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q144. Which Indian-origin Pulitzer winner is associated with the book 'The Laws of Medicine'?

  1. (a) Jhumpa Lahiri
  2. (b) Siddhartha Mukherjee
  3. (c) Pico Iyer
  4. (d) Amitava Kumar
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Siddhartha Mukherjee

Siddhartha Mukherjee is an Indian-American oncologist, physician, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author associated with 'The Laws of Medicine' (2015). He is best known for 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer' (2010), which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2011.
Option (a) is incorrect: Jhumpa Lahiri is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of fiction (won for 'Interpreter of Maladies' in 2000); she is a literary writer, not a medical author.
Option (c) is incorrect: Pico Iyer is a travel writer and essayist; he is not a Pulitzer winner and is not associated with medical writing.
Option (d) is incorrect: Amitava Kumar is a novelist, journalist, and professor; he is not associated with 'The Laws of Medicine.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q145. Who won the Sahitya Akademi Award (Kannada) in 1990 for the novel 'Kusuma Bale'?

  1. (a) Devanur Mahadeva
  2. (b) P. Lankesh
  3. (c) S.L. Bhyrappa
  4. (d) T.R. Subba Rao
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Devanur Mahadeva

Devanur Mahadeva is the Kannada writer who won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990 for the novel 'Kusuma Bale.' He is one of the most important voices in Dalit literature in Kannada and is known for his sharp, socially conscious writing that addresses caste discrimination and social inequality.
Option (b) is incorrect: P. Lankesh was a prominent Kannada writer and journalist; he is not the winner of the 1990 Sahitya Akademi Award for 'Kusuma Bale.'
Option (c) is incorrect: S.L. Bhyrappa is a prolific and celebrated Kannada novelist, but he is not associated with 'Kusuma Bale' or this specific award.
Option (d) is incorrect: T.R. Subba Rao is a Kannada writer but was not the recipient of this particular Sahitya Akademi Award.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q146. Which Indian-American physician and author won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 2011 for "The Emperor of All Maladies"?

  1. (a) Nawab Pate
  2. (b) Siddhartha Mukherjee
  3. (c) Atul Gawande
  4. (d) Vikram Seth
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Siddhartha Mukherjee

Siddhartha Mukherjee, an Indian-American oncologist and author, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 2011 for his book 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.' The book traces the history of cancer and its treatment from ancient times to modern oncology. Mukherjee is a professor at Columbia University and a practicing cancer physician.
Option 1 is incorrect: Nawab Pate is not a well-known author associated with this award.
Option 3 is incorrect: Atul Gawande is a renowned Indian-American surgeon and author (known for 'Complications', 'Being Mortal'), but he did not win the 2011 Pulitzer for this book.
Option 4 is incorrect: Vikram Seth is an Indian author known for 'A Suitable Boy' and other works; he is not a physician and did not write 'The Emperor of All Maladies.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q147. The Kannada novel "Om Namo" received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000. Who is its author?

  1. (a) Shantinath K. Desai
  2. (b) Chaduranga
  3. (c) Vyasaraya Ballal
  4. (d) G.S. Amur
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Shantinath K. Desai

The Kannada novel 'Om Namo' was written by Shantinath K. Desai and received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000. Shantinath Kudalasangamadeva Desai (1929-2004) was a prominent Kannada writer known for his modernist approach to literature. 'Om Namo' is a significant philosophical and literary work in Kannada literature.
Option 2 is incorrect: Chaduranga (pen name of Venkatacharya ) is another noted Kannada writer but is not the author of 'Om Namo.'
Option 3 is incorrect: Vyasaraya Ballal is a Kannada writer known for works like ' Bangarada Manusya ' script, but not for 'Om Namo.'
Option 4 is incorrect: G.S. Amur is a Kannada literary critic and not the author of 'Om Namo.'
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q148. The short-story collection " Krouncha Pakshigalu " (2009) was written by ________.

  1. (a) Vaidehi
  2. (b) Shrinivas B. Vaidya
  3. (c) Yashwant Chittal
  4. (d) P. Lankesh
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Vaidehi

The short-story collection ' Krouncha Pakshigalu ' (2009) was written by Vaidehi, the pen name of Janaki Srinivasa Murthy, a distinguished Kannada writer from Karnataka. Vaidehi is known for her sensitive portrayal of women's lives and social issues. She has received the Sahitya Akademi Award and several other prestigious literary honours for her contributions to Kannada literature.
Option 2 is incorrect: Shrinivas B. Vaidya is another Kannada literary figure but is not the author of ' Krouncha Pakshigalu .'
Option 3 is incorrect: Yashwant Chittal is a noted Kannada novelist known for 'Shikari' and other works, but he did not write this short-story collection.
Option 4 is incorrect: P. Lankesh ( Purnachandra Tejaswi's contemporary) was a prominent Kannada writer and journalist, but ' Krouncha Pakshigalu ' was written by Vaidehi.
Delhi Police Constable (Exe) 2025-26 – 18 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q149. Which writer's work, "The Private Life of an Indian Prince," is a semi-autobiographical critique of princely politics?

  1. (a) Mulk Raj Anand
  2. (b) Khushwant Singh
  3. (c) Manohar Malgonkar
  4. (d) Ruskin Bond
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Mulk Raj Anand

'The Private Life of an Indian Prince' (1953) was written by Mulk Raj Anand, one of the pioneers of Indian writing in English. The novel is considered semi-autobiographical and depicts the life of a fictional Maharaja of Shampur whose extravagant lifestyle and psychological deterioration reflect the decline of the princely order after Indian Independence. Mulk Raj Anand was known for his socially conscious writing and is best known for 'Untouchable' (1935) and 'Coolie' (1936).
Option 2 is incorrect: Khushwant Singh was a prolific Indian author known for 'Train to Pakistan' and his two-volume history of the Sikhs; he did not write this novel.
Option 3 is incorrect: Manohar Malgonkar was an Indian English author known for 'A Bend in the Ganges' and 'The Princes'; he did not write 'The Private Life of an Indian Prince.'
Option 4 is incorrect: Ruskin Bond is a beloved Indian-British author known for his stories set in the Himalayan foothills; he did not write this political novel about princely India.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 12 December 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q150. Which novel by Kazuo Ishiguro won the Booker Prize in 1989 and was later adapted into an Oscar-nominated film?

  1. (a) An Artist of the Floating World
  2. (b) The Remains of the Day
  3. (c) Never Let Me Go
  4. (d) A Pale View of Hills
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) The Remains of the Day

Correct Answer: The Remains of the Day (Option 2)
Kazuo Ishiguro's 'The Remains of the Day' won the Booker Prize in 1989. The novel is about an English butler, Stevens, who reflects on his life and career during a road trip. It was adapted into a critically acclaimed film in 1993, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, which received eight Academy Award nominations (Oscar-nominated).
An Artist of the Floating World (1986) was shortlisted for the Booker but did not win.
Never Let Me Go (2005) was also shortlisted for the Booker but did not win — it was adapted into a film in 2010.
A Pale View of Hills (1982) was Ishiguro's debut novel.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 11 December 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q151. Which author's "Small Things Like These" was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize but is NOT of Indian origin?

  1. (a) Arundhati Roy
  2. (b) Elizabeth Strout
  3. (c) Claire Keegan
  4. (d) Shehan Karunatilaka
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Claire Keegan

Correct Answer: Claire Keegan (Option 3)
Claire Keegan is an Irish author. Her novella "Small Things Like These" was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize. The book is set in 1980s Ireland and deals with the Magdalene laundries. She is Irish, not of Indian origin.
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author (The God of Small Things).
Elizabeth Strout is an American author — not of Indian origin either, but her book "Oh William!" was shortlisted, not "Small Things Like These."
Shehan Karunatilaka is Sri Lankan (his novel "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida" won the 2022 Booker Prize).
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 11 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q152. Which Chinese-American author's novel "The Joy Luck Club" became internationally acclaimed and adapted into a film in 1993?

  1. (a) Amy Tan
  2. (b) Celeste Ng
  3. (c) Maxine Hong Kingston
  4. (d) Lisa See
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amy Tan

Correct Answer: Amy Tan (Option 1)
Amy Tan, a Chinese-American author, wrote 'The Joy Luck Club' (1989), which explores the relationships between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. The novel became a bestseller and was adapted into a film in 1993 directed by Wayne Wang.
Celeste Ng is a Chinese-American author known for 'Everything I Never Told You ' and 'Little Fires Everywhere' — not 'The Joy Luck Club'.
Maxine Hong Kingston is a Chinese-American author known for 'The Woman Warrior' — not 'The Joy Luck Club'.
Lisa See is known for historical novels about Chinese women but did not write 'The Joy Luck Club'.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 11 December 2025 Shift 2 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q153. Who is the author of 'Madam President: The Biography of Droupadi Murmu'?

  1. (a) Kasturi Ray
  2. (b) Sandeep Sahu
  3. (c) Dr Kabita Barik
  4. (d) Gopal Sharma
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Sandeep Sahu

Correct Answer: Sandeep Sahu (Option 2)
Sandeep Sahu, an Odisha-based journalist and author, wrote 'Madam President: The Biography of Droupadi Murmu'. The book traces the life journey of Droupadi Murmu from her humble tribal background in Odisha to becoming the 15th President of India (2022), and the first tribal woman to hold that office.
Kasturi Ray, Dr Kabita Barik, and Gopal Sharma are not the authors of this biography.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 9 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q154. Who wrote the novel 'A Suitable Boy'?

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Chetan Bhagat
  4. (d) Manu Joseph
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Vikram Seth

'A Suitable Boy' (published 1993) is a celebrated novel by Vikram Seth.
It is one of the longest novels ever published in the English language (approximately 1,349 pages).
The novel is set in post-partition India (early 1950s) and follows a mother's quest to find a suitable husband for her daughter.
Salman Rushdie: Known for 'Midnight's Children' (Booker Prize, 1981) and 'The Satanic Verses'.
Chetan Bhagat: Known for 'Five Point Someone', '2 States', 'Revolution 2020'; writes popular fiction.
Manu Joseph: Indian journalist and author known for 'Serious Men' and 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People'.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 9 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q155. Which Nigerian author won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2007 for "Half of a Yellow Sun"?

  1. (a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  2. (b) Buchi Emecheta
  3. (c) Lola Shoneyin
  4. (d) Sefi Atta
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Correct Answer: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a celebrated Nigerian author, won the Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly Orange Prize) in 2007 for her novel Half of a Yellow Sun, which is set during the Nigerian Civil War (Biafra War, 1967–70).
Option 2 (Buchi Emecheta): Incorrect. She was a prominent Nigerian author but did not win this prize for this book.
Option 3 (Lola Shoneyin ): Incorrect. She is known for The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives.
Option 4 (Sefi Atta): Incorrect. She is a Nigerian author but is not associated with this award.
SSC CPO Paper-1 2025 – 9 December 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q156. Who is the author of 'The Glass Palace'?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Salman Rushdie
  4. (d) Raj Kamal Jha
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amitav Ghosh

Correct Answer: Amitav Ghosh
The Glass Palace (2000) is a novel by Amitav Ghosh, the acclaimed Indian author. The novel spans over a century and explores the British colonization of Burma (Myanmar), covering themes of imperialism, family, and identity across multiple generations.
Option 2 (Vikram Seth): Incorrect. Known for A Suitable Boy and The Golden Gate.
Option 3 (Salman Rushdie): Incorrect. Known for Midnight's Children, The Satanic Verses.
Option 4 (Raj Kamal Jha): Incorrect. Known for The Blue Bedspread.
SSC Stenographer 2025 – 8 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q157. Who is the author of "The God of Small Things"?

  1. (a) Mo Yan
  2. (b) Neil Gaiman
  3. (c) Arundhati Roy
  4. (d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Arundhati Roy

The novel "The God of Small Things" was authored by Arundhati Roy , an Indian writer and political activist. Published in 1997 , it is her debut novel and won the Booker Prize for Fiction the same year, bringing her international recognition. The novel is set in Kerala and explores themes of caste discrimination, social injustice, family bonds, and forbidden love, making it a landmark in Indian English literature.
SSC Stenographer 2025 – 8 December 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q158. Which of the following accurately describes The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida , winner of the 2022 Booker Prize?
The novel is set during the civil war in Sri Lanka and explores the afterlife of a photojournalist.
It is a non-fictional account of archaeological excavations in the Gandhara region.
The author, Shehan Karunatilaka, uses satire and ghosts to comment on violence, memory, and political trauma.

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 1 and 3 only
  3. (c) 2 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3 all are correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka is set during the Sri Lankan civil war. It follows the story of a photojournalist navigating the afterlife, using satire and ghostly narration to reflect on violence, memory, and politics. Thus, Statement 1 (Sri Lankan civil war & afterlife theme) and Statement 3 (use of satire & ghosts to comment on violence and politics) are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect as the book is a fictional novel , not an archaeological account.
SSC Stenographer 2025 – 7 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q159. What was the first published poetry collection by Vinod Kumar Shukla?

  1. (a) Woh Aadmi Chala Gaya
  2. (b) Aakash Dharti Ko Khatakta Hai
  3. (c) Lagbhag Jai Hind
  4. (d) Kavita Se Lambi Kavita
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Lagbhag Jai Hind

The correct answer is Lagbhag Jai Hind . Vinod Kumar Shukla, a noted Hindi writer and poet, is known for his simple yet powerful style. His first published poetry collection was "Lagbhag Jai Hind" (1971) , which established him as a significant modern Hindi poet. This work reflects his sharp socio-political observations and unique poetic voice.
SSC Stenographer 2025 – 6 December 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q160. What is the name of the writer of Tomb of Sand , the first Hindi book to be awarded the International Booker Prize?

  1. (a) Jhumpa Lahiri
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) Kiran Desai
  4. (d) Geetanjali Shree
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Geetanjali Shree

The correct answer is Geetanjali Shree . She became the first Indian author to win the International Booker Prize in 2022 for her Hindi novel "Ret Samadhi" , translated into English as "Tomb of Sand" by Daisy Rockwell. This award brought Hindi literature into global recognition and marked a historic moment for Indian regional languages in world literature.
SSC Stenographer 2025 – 6 December 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q161. Which Indian-American author wrote The Namesake , later adapted into a film?

  1. (a) Arundhati Roy
  2. (b) Jhumpa Lahiri
  3. (c) Kiran Desai
  4. (d) Chetan Bhagat
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Jhumpa Lahiri

The correct answer is Jhumpa Lahiri . She is an Indian-American author known for her works on themes of identity, migration, and the experiences of Indian immigrants in America. The Namesake , published in 2003, was her first novel, which follows the life of Gogol Ganguli, the son of Indian immigrants in the United States, exploring cultural displacement and identity struggles. The novel received international acclaim and was later adapted into a popular film in 2006, directed by Mira Nair. Jhumpa Lahiri has also won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2000) for her debut short-story collection Interpreter of Maladies .
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 30 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q162. Which of the following novels is the first in a trilogy written by R.K. Narayan?

  1. (a) The Scream
  2. (b) The Namesake
  3. (c) Swami and Friends
  4. (d) The Hungry Tide
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Swami and Friends

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Swami and Friends
Swami and Friends (1935) is the first novel in the Malgudi trilogy written by R.K. Narayan. The trilogy consists of: (1) Swami and Friends (1935), (2) The Bachelor of Arts (1937), and (3) The English Teacher (1945). All three are set in the fictional town of Malgudi.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (The Scream): This is not an R.K. Narayan novel; it is a famous painting by Edvard Munch.
Option 2 (The Namesake): This is a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, not R.K. Narayan. The candidate incorrectly selected this.
Option 4 (The Hungry Tide): This is a novel by Amitav Ghosh, not R.K. Narayan.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 27 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q163. Which among the following is a book authored by Arundhati Roy?

  1. (a) Flood of Fire
  2. (b) The Circle of Reason
  3. (c) Capitalism: A Ghost Story
  4. (d) The Liberation of Sita
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Capitalism: A Ghost Story

"Capitalism: A Ghost Story" is a non-fiction book written by Arundhati Roy, published in 2014. It critiques the influence of corporate capitalism and philanthropy in India.
"Flood of Fire" is authored by Amitav Ghosh.
"The Circle of Reason" is also authored by Amitav Ghosh.
"The Liberation of Sita" is authored by Volga ( Popuri Lalitha Kumari).
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 27 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q164. Who is the author of the book 'Shalimar The Clown'?

  1. (a) Anita Desai
  2. (b) Shiva Naipaul
  3. (c) Salman Rushdie
  4. (d) Rohinton Mistry
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Salman Rushdie

"Shalimar the Clown" is a novel written by Salman Rushdie, published in 2005. It is set in Kashmir and deals with themes of love, betrayal, and terrorism.
Anita Desai is known for works like "Clear Light of Day" and "In Custody."
Shiva Naipaul was a Trinidadian author, brother of V.S. Naipaul.
Rohinton Mistry is known for "A Fine Balance" and "Such a Long Journey."
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 27 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q165. Who is the author of the book 'Development as Freedom'?

  1. (a) Durjoy Datta
  2. (b) Bhisham Sahni
  3. (c) Amartya Sen
  4. (d) Vivek Shanbhag
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Amartya Sen

'Development as Freedom' is a landmark book written by Amartya Sen, published in 1999. In it, Sen argues that development should be understood as the expansion of human freedoms — not just economic growth. Amartya Sen is a Nobel Prize-winning economist (1998) from India.
Durjoy Datta is a popular fiction writer; Bhisham Sahni is known for 'Tamas'; Vivek Shanbhag is a Kannada author. Hence, Amartya Sen is correct.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 27 November 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q166. Which of the following books has been written by Jhumpa Lahiri?

  1. (a) Whereabouts
  2. (b) The Nowhere Man
  3. (c) The Keeper of the Dead
  4. (d) The Nine-Chambered Heart
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Whereabouts

Correct Answer: Whereabouts (Option 1)
'Whereabouts' (2021) is a novel written by Jhumpa Lahiri. Jhumpa Lahiri is a Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American author known for works like 'The Namesake' and 'Interpreter of Maladies'. 'Whereabouts' was originally written in Italian and then translated to English by the author herself.
Why others are wrong:
Option 2 - The Nowhere Man: This is a novel by Kamala Markandaya, not Jhumpa Lahiri.
Option 3 - The Keeper of the Dead: This is not a Jhumpa Lahiri work.
Option 4 - The Nine-Chambered Heart: This is a novel by Janice Pariat, not Jhumpa Lahiri.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 26 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q167. Who wrote the book 'A Suitable Boy' which was published in 1993?

  1. (a) Amit Varma
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Aruni Kashyap
  4. (d) Ajay K Pandey
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Vikram Seth

'A Suitable Boy' is a celebrated novel written by Vikram Seth, published in 1993. It is one of the longest novels published in the English language and follows the story of Lata Mehra and her mother's search for a suitable husband set in post-independence India.
Amit Varma, Aruni Kashyap, and Ajay K Pandey are Indian writers known for other works. Hence, Vikram Seth is correct.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 26 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q168. Who penned the novel 'Last Man in Tower'?

  1. (a) Kiran Desai
  2. (b) Aravind Adiga
  3. (c) Arundhati Roy
  4. (d) Shashi Tharoor
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Aravind Adiga

'Last Man in Tower' is a novel written by Aravind Adiga, published in 2011. The story revolves around a retired schoolteacher who refuses to sell his apartment in a Mumbai housing society to a real estate developer, while all other residents have agreed.
Kiran Desai is known for 'The Inheritance of Loss'; Arundhati Roy for 'The God of Small Things'; Shashi Tharoor for non-fiction political works. Hence, Aravind Adiga is correct.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 25 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q169. Who is the author of the book 'The White Tiger'?

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Aravind Adiga
  3. (c) Amitav Ghosh
  4. (d) Rohinton Mistry
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Aravind Adiga

'The White Tiger' is a novel written by Aravind Adiga, published in 2008. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. The novel presents a dark, satirical portrayal of class struggle and corruption in India through the story of a servant who rises to become an entrepreneur.
Vikram Seth is known for 'A Suitable Boy'; Amitav Ghosh for 'The Shadow Lines'; Rohinton Mistry for 'A Fine Balance'. None of them wrote 'The White Tiger'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 25 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q170. Who is the author of the book 'War Talk'?

  1. (a) Arundhati Roy
  2. (b) Anita Desai
  3. (c) Shobhaa De
  4. (d) Githa Hariharan
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Arundhati Roy

'War Talk' is a collection of essays written by Arundhati Roy, published in 2003. The book contains essays on nuclear weapons, US imperialism, corporate globalization, and civil liberties, reflecting Roy's political activism.
Anita Desai is known for 'In Custody'; Shobhaa De is known for 'Socialite Evenings'; Githa Hariharan is known for 'The Thousand Faces of Night'. None of them authored 'War Talk'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 25 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q171. Who is the author of the book 'Ladies Coupe'?

  1. (a) Leila Seth
  2. (b) Anita Nair
  3. (c) Twinkle Khanna
  4. (d) Nirupama Rao
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Anita Nair

'Ladies Coupe' is a novel written by Anita Nair, published in 2001. The novel is set aboard a train and follows six women who share their life stories, exploring themes of womanhood, freedom, and identity in Indian society.
Leila Seth is known for her autobiography 'On Balance'; Twinkle Khanna for ' Mrs Funnybones'; Nirupama Rao is a former diplomat. None of them authored 'Ladies Coupe'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 25 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q172. From the following authors, who created 'Midnight's Children'?

  1. (a) Raj Kamal Jha
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Kiran Nagarkar
  4. (d) Upamanyu Chatterjee
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Salman Rushdie

'Midnight's Children' is a celebrated novel written by Salman Rushdie, published in 1981. The book won the Booker Prize (1981) and the 'Booker of Bookers' (1993 and 2008). It narrates the story of Saleem Sinai, born at the moment of India's independence.
Raj Kamal Jha, Kiran Nagarkar, and Upamanyu Chatterjee are Indian authors known for other works. Hence, Salman Rushdie is correct.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 24 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q173. 'Nehru's Hero: Dilip Kumar in the Life of India' is a book written by ___.

  1. (a) Sunil Khilnan
  2. (b) Vikram Sampath
  3. (c) Rajmohan Gandhi
  4. (d) Meghnad Desai
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Meghnad Desai

Correct Answer: Meghnad Desai (Option 4)
'Nehru's Hero: Dilip Kumar in the Life of India' is a book written by Lord Meghnad Desai, a British economist of Indian origin and a member of the UK House of Lords. The book explores the life and legacy of legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar (born Yusuf Khan) and his connection to India's Nehruvian era.
Sunil Khilnani is known for writing 'The Idea of India' — a political history of India after independence.
Vikram Sampath authored biographies of Veer Savarkar and 'Bravehearts of Bharat.'
Rajmohan Gandhi is known for biographies of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajagopalachari.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 24 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q174. Who is the author of the book 'The Room on the Roof'?

  1. (a) Shashi Tharoor
  2. (b) R.K. Narayan
  3. (c) V.S. Naipaul
  4. (d) Ruskin Bond
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Ruskin Bond

Correct Answer: Ruskin Bond (Option 4)
'The Room on the Roof' is the debut novel written by Ruskin Bond, published in 1956. It is a semi-autobiographical work about a young Anglo-Indian boy named Rusty living in Dehradun. The book won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957.
Why others are wrong:
Option 1 - Shashi Tharoor: He is the author of books like 'The Great Indian Novel' and 'Inglorious Empire', not 'The Room on the Roof'.
Option 2 - R.K. Narayan: He is known for his Malgudi Days and novels set in the fictional town of Malgudi.
Option 3 - V.S. Naipaul: He is known for 'A House for Mr. Biswas', 'In a Free State', etc., not this book.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 22 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q175. Who is the author of the book ' Speedpost ', a collection of personal letters to her children?

  1. (a) Kiran Desai
  2. (b) Shobha De
  3. (c) Jhumpa Lahiri
  4. (d) Arundhati Roy
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Shobha De

Correct Answer: Shobha De (Option 2)
Shobha De is the author of ' Speedpost : Letters to My Children'. In this book, she addresses personal letters to her six children, covering topics like love, life, relationships, and her own experiences. Shobha De is a well-known Indian author, columnist, and social commentator known for her candid writing style.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 - Kiran Desai: She is known for 'The Inheritance of Loss' (Booker Prize winner), not ' Speedpost '.
Option 3 - Jhumpa Lahiri: Known for 'Interpreter of Maladies' and 'The Namesake', not ' Speedpost '.
Option 4 - Arundhati Roy: Known for 'The God of Small Things', not ' Speedpost '.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 22 November 2025 Shift 2 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q176. 'Faster Than Lightning: My Story' is the autobiography of which of the following Olympian?

  1. (a) Carl Lewis
  2. (b) Usain Bolt
  3. (c) Justin Gatlin
  4. (d) Yohan Blake
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Usain Bolt

'Faster Than Lightning: My Story' is the autobiography of Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter and eight-time Olympic gold medallist, who holds world records in 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s).
Carl Lewis, Justin Gatlin, and Yohan Blake have not written a book by this title.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 22 November 2025 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q177. Who wrote the autobiography 'Childhood Days: A Memoir'?

  1. (a) Satyajit Ray
  2. (b) Amartya Sen
  3. (c) Soumitra Chatterjee
  4. (d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Satyajit Ray

Correct Answer: Satyajit Ray (Option 1)
Satyajit Ray wrote 'Childhood Days: A Memoir' (originally written in Bengali as ' Jakhon Chhoto Chilam'). In this autobiography, the legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray recounts his childhood experiences and memories of growing up in Calcutta. The book provides a fascinating insight into his formative years, his family, and the cultural milieu of early 20th century Bengal.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 - Amartya Sen: His memoir is 'Home in the World' (2021), not 'Childhood Days'.
Option 3 - Soumitra Chatterjee: He was an actor, not the author of 'Childhood Days: A Memoir'.
Option 4 - Rabindranath Tagore: His autobiographical writing includes 'My Reminiscences' ( Jibansmriti ), not 'Childhood Days: A Memoir'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 21 November 2025 Shift 1 · Ancient and medieval books

Q178. Who authored 'Bijak', a collection of devotional poems and teachings?

  1. (a) Surdas
  2. (b) Raskhan
  3. (c) Kabir Das
  4. (d) Mirabai
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Kabir Das

Kabir Das authored the 'Bijak', a sacred collection of his devotional poems ( dohas ), teachings, and couplets that form the scriptural basis for the Kabir Panth religious community. Kabir was a 15th-century mystic poet and saint of the Bhakti movement who rejected religious orthodoxy and preached unity between Hinduism and Islam. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Surdas: Known for ' Sursagar ', a collection of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Option 2 - Raskhan : Known for his devotional poems on Krishna; did not write the Bijak. Option 4 - Mirabai: Known for her devotional bhajans to Lord Krishna; did not write the Bijak.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 21 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q179. Who is the author of the book 'Show Business', which parodies and satirizes formulaic Bollywood cinema?

  1. (a) Arundhati Roy
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Shashi Tharoor
  4. (d) Khushwant Singh
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor is the author of 'Show Business' (1992), a satirical novel that parodies and critiques the formulaic nature of Bollywood (Hindi cinema). The novel follows a Bollywood superstar and uses the story to comment on Indian politics, society, and the film industry. Tharoor is also known for 'The Great Indian Novel'. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Arundhati Roy: Known for 'The God of Small Things' (Booker Prize winner); she did not write 'Show Business'. Option 2 - Salman Rushdie: Known for 'Midnight's Children' and 'The Satanic Verses'; he did not write 'Show Business'. Option 4 - Khushwant Singh: Known for 'Train to Pakistan' and other works; he did not write 'Show Business'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 21 November 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q180. Who wrote 'The Jungle Book' in 1894?

  1. (a) Rudyard Kipling
  2. (b) William Shakespeare
  3. (c) Stephen Alter
  4. (d) Edgar Allan Poe
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Rudyard Kipling

Correct Answer: Rudyard Kipling (Option 1)
'The Jungle Book' was written by Rudyard Kipling and published in 1894. It is a collection of stories set in the Indian jungle, featuring the famous character Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves. Other well-known characters include Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther, and Shere Khan the tiger. Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.
William Shakespeare was an English playwright (16th-17th century). Stephen Alter is a contemporary American-Indian author. Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer known for gothic and horror stories.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 20 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q181. Which of the following books has NOT been written by Amitav Ghosh?

  1. (a) The Glass Palace
  2. (b) The Imam and the Indian
  3. (c) The Hungry Tide
  4. (d) The Ground Beneath Her Feet
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) The Ground Beneath Her Feet

'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' is a novel written by Salman Rushdie (published in 1999), NOT by Amitav Ghosh. All the other options are works by Amitav Ghosh. Amitav Ghosh's notable works include: The Glass Palace (2000) - a historical novel. The Imam and the Indian (2002) - a collection of essays. The Hungry Tide (2004) - set in the Sundarbans. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - The Glass Palace: Written by Amitav Ghosh. Option 2 - The Imam and the Indian: Written by Amitav Ghosh. Option 3 - The Hungry Tide: Written by Amitav Ghosh.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 20 November 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q182. Who is the author of the book 'Guerrillas' published in 1975?

  1. (a) Novoneel Chakraborty
  2. (b) V. S. Naipaul
  3. (c) Bapsi Sidhwa
  4. (d) Mohsin Hamid
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) V. S. Naipaul

V. S. Naipaul (Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul), the Nobel Prize-winning Trinidad-born British author of Indian descent, wrote the novel 'Guerrillas' published in 1975. The novel deals with political and social upheaval in a Caribbean island nation and is considered one of his most powerful works. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Novoneel Chakraborty: A contemporary Indian author, he did not write 'Guerrillas'. Option 3 - Bapsi Sidhwa: A Pakistani author known for 'Cracking India' (Ice-Candy Man), not 'Guerrillas'. Option 4 - Mohsin Hamid: A Pakistani author known for 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', not 'Guerrillas'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 20 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q183. Which of the following novel has been authored by Anita Desai?

  1. (a) Book of Humour
  2. (b) I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale
  3. (c) Where Shall We Go This Summer
  4. (d) The Struggle for India's Soul
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Where Shall We Go This Summer

'Where Shall We Go This Summer' (1975) is a novel authored by Anita Desai, one of India's most distinguished novelists. The story depicts a pregnant woman's existential crisis and her retreat to Manori Island. Anita Desai has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Book of Humour: Not authored by Anita Desai. Option 2 - I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale: This novel was written by Khushwant Singh, not Anita Desai. Option 4 - The Struggle for India's Soul: Not a work by Anita Desai.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 20 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q184. Who is the author of the book 'The Shadow Lines'?

  1. (a) Hari Kunzru
  2. (b) Amitav Ghosh
  3. (c) Pankaj Mishra
  4. (d) Vikram Chandra
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Amitav Ghosh

Correct Answer: Amitav Ghosh
'The Shadow Lines' (1988) is a novel written by Amitav Ghosh, one of India's most celebrated authors. The novel explores themes of memory, nationalism, and partition through the interconnected lives of families in Calcutta, Dhaka, and London. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award and established Amitav Ghosh as a major literary figure. His other notable works include 'The Sea of Poppies', 'The Glass Palace', and 'The Hungry Tide.'
Why other options are wrong:
- Hari Kunzru: Known for 'The Impressionist' and 'White Tears'; not the author of 'The Shadow Lines.'
- Pankaj Mishra: Known for 'The Romantics' and 'From the Ruins of Empire'; not the author.
- Vikram Chandra: Known for 'Sacred Games' and 'Love and Longing in Bombay'; not the author.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 20 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q185. Which Hindi novel by Munshi Premchand depicts the life of Indian peasants?

  1. (a) Godan
  2. (b) Kurukshetra
  3. (c) Gunjan
  4. (d) Urvashi
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Godan

Correct Answer: Godan
'Godan' (1936) is Munshi Premchand's masterpiece Hindi novel that depicts the life of Indian peasants. The title means 'gift of a cow' (go=cow, dan=gift). The novel follows Hori Mahato, a poor farmer, and his lifelong dream of owning a cow - symbolising the aspirations and sufferings of rural India. Godan is considered one of the greatest works of Hindi literature and remains highly relevant for its portrayal of agrarian distress.
Why other options are wrong:
- Kurukshetra: An epic poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on the Mahabharata; not a Premchand novel.
- Gunjan: A poetry collection by Sumitranandan Pant; not by Premchand.
- Urvashi: An epic poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar; not a Premchand novel about peasants.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q186. Who won the Pulitzer Prize for the debut work 'Interpreter of Maladies', published in 1999?

  1. (a) Kiran Desai
  2. (b) Jhumpa Lahiri
  3. (c) Shobha Rao
  4. (d) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut short story collection 'Interpreter of Maladies', published in 1999. The collection portrays the lives of Indian immigrants in the United States. She also won the PEN/Hemingway Award for the same work. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Kiran Desai: She won the Man Booker Prize in 2006 for 'The Inheritance of Loss', not 'Interpreter of Maladies'. Option 3 - Shobha Rao: She is an author but did not write 'Interpreter of Maladies'. Option 4 - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: She is known for 'The Mistress of Spices' and other works, but is not the author of 'Interpreter of Maladies'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q187. Who is the author of the book 'Marx's Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the Death of Statist Socialism'?

  1. (a) Amartya Sen
  2. (b) Meghnad Desai
  3. (c) Pavan K. Varma
  4. (d) Ramachandra Guha
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Meghnad Desai

Lord Meghnad Desai (Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai), a British-Indian economist and Labour Life Peer, is the author of 'Marx's Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the Death of Statist Socialism' (2002). In this book, he argues that Marx's predictions about capitalism were ultimately correct, though the death of communism has given capitalism a new lease of life. Why other options are wrong: Option 1 - Amartya Sen: Nobel-winning economist, known for works like 'Development as Freedom', not this book. Option 3 - Pavan K. Varma: Known for books on Indian civilization and society, not this title. Option 4 - Ramachandra Guha: Historian known for 'India After Gandhi', not the author of this book.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q188. Who is the author of the novel 'The Blue Umbrella'?

  1. (a) Ruskin Bond
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) R. K. Narayan
  4. (d) Khushwant Singh
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Ruskin Bond

Correct Answer: Ruskin Bond
'The Blue Umbrella' is a novella written by Ruskin Bond, published in 1980. It is set in the hills of Garhwal, Uttarakhand and tells the story of a young girl Binya who trades her leopard claw necklace for a beautiful blue umbrella. The story was adapted into a Bollywood film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj in 2007.
Why other options are wrong:
- Arundhati Roy: Known for 'The God of Small Things' (Booker Prize winner, 1997).
- R.K. Narayan: Known for 'Malgudi Days', 'The Guide', and other works set in fictional Malgudi.
- Khushwant Singh: Known for 'Train to Pakistan' and 'A History of the Sikhs'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q189. Who is the author of the book 'Two Lives'?

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Chetan Bhagat
  3. (c) Sudha Murty
  4. (d) Samit Basu
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Vikram Seth

Correct Answer: Vikram Seth
'Two Lives' (2005) is a memoir written by Vikram Seth. It tells the story of his great-uncle Shanti Behari Seth, an Indian dentist who settled in England, and his German-Jewish wife Henny Caro. The book interweaves family history with the broader sweep of 20th century history including the Holocaust and World War II.
Why other options are wrong:
- Chetan Bhagat: Known for '2 States', 'Five Point Someone', 'Half Girlfriend'; not the author of 'Two Lives'.
- Sudha Murty: Known for 'Wise and Otherwise', 'Dollar Bahu'; not the author of 'Two Lives'.
- Samit Basu: Known for 'The Simoqin Prophecies' and other fantasy fiction; not the author of 'Two Lives'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q190. Who is the author of the book 'The God of Small Things'?

  1. (a) Ruskin Bond
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) R.K. Narayan
  4. (d) Mulk Raj Anand
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Arundhati Roy

Correct Answer: Arundhati Roy (Option 2)
'The God of Small Things' (1997) is the debut novel of Arundhati Roy. It won the Booker Prize in 1997, making Arundhati Roy the first Indian woman to receive the award. The novel is set in Kerala and explores themes of love, caste, and social norms.
Ruskin Bond is known for works like 'The Blue Umbrella' and 'The Room on the Roof.' R.K. Narayan is famous for the Malgudi Days series. Mulk Raj Anand wrote 'Untouchable' (1935) and 'Coolie' (1936).
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 17 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q191. Who is the author of the book 'Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous'?

  1. (a) Sachin Kundalkar
  2. (b) Ruchir Joshi
  3. (c) Manu Joseph
  4. (d) Ajay K Pandey
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Manu Joseph

Correct Answer: Manu Joseph (Option 3)
'Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous' (2017) is authored by Manu Joseph, an Indian journalist and novelist. The novel is a satirical thriller set in contemporary India. Manu Joseph is also known for his novels 'Serious Men' (2010) and 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People' (2012).
Sachin Kundalkar is known for Marathi literature. Ruchir Joshi is known for 'The Last Jet-Engine Laugh.' Ajay K Pandey is known for 'You Are the Best Wife.'
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 14 November 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q192. Who is the author of the book 'The Gopi Diaries: Finding Love'?

  1. (a) Sudha Murty
  2. (b) Rekha Verma
  3. (c) Anuradha Roy
  4. (d) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Sudha Murty

'The Gopi Diaries: Finding Love' is a book written by Sudha Murty, the renowned Indian author, philanthropist, and former Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. The book is part of her children's fiction series. Rekha Verma, Anuradha Roy, and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni are other Indian women authors, but none of them wrote this particular book.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 14 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q193. Who is the author of the book 'Gandhi in Champaran', which describes Mahatma Gandhi's first Satyagraha struggle on Indian soil in 1917?

  1. (a) Toru Dutt
  2. (b) Rajendra Prasad
  3. (c) D.G. Tendulkar
  4. (d) Kamala Das
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) D.G. Tendulkar

Correct Answer: D.G. Tendulkar
'Gandhi in Champaran' was written by D.G. Tendulkar (Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar), a noted author and photographer who documented Mahatma Gandhi's life. The book describes the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, which was Gandhi's first civil disobedience movement in India. He led indigo farmers of Champaran, Bihar, against the oppressive tinkathia system imposed by British planters.
Why other options are wrong:
- Toru Dutt: A 19th-century poet known for English and French poetry; unrelated to Gandhi's biography.
- Rajendra Prasad: India's first President wrote 'At the Feet of Mahatma Gandhi' and 'Satyagraha in Champaran'; not 'Gandhi in Champaran.'
- Kamala Das: Known for her autobiographical novel 'My Story'; unrelated to Gandhi.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 14 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q194. 'Mohini: The Enchantress' is a mythological fiction authored by _____.

  1. (a) Shobha Rao
  2. (b) Anita Nair
  3. (c) Anuja Chandramouli
  4. (d) Deepti Naval
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Anuja Chandramouli

Correct Answer: Anuja Chandramouli
'Mohini: The Enchantress' is a mythological fiction written by Anuja Chandramouli, a popular Indian author known for retelling Hindu mythological stories. She is known for works like 'Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince', 'Kamadeva: The God of Desire', and 'Priya: In the Shadows of the Goddess.'
Why other options are wrong:
- Shobha Rao: Known for 'Girls Burn Brighter'; writes contemporary fiction, not mythology.
- Anita Nair: Known for 'Ladies Coupe' and 'Mistress'; not the author of this book.
- Deepti Naval: Known as a Bollywood actress and poet; not the author of this book.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 14 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q195. Who is the author of the book 'The Householder'?

  1. (a) Ruskin Bond
  2. (b) Satyajit Ray
  3. (c) Arun Joshi
  4. (d) Amitabha Bagchi
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Amitabha Bagchi

Amitabha Bagchi is the author of 'The Householder'. He is a contemporary Indian author known for works like 'Above Average' and 'The Householder', the latter being one of his notable novels. Why others are wrong: - Ruskin Bond: A celebrated British-Indian author known for works like 'The Blue Umbrella' and 'A Flight of Pigeons', not 'The Householder'. - Satyajit Ray: Renowned filmmaker and writer, best known for Pather Panchali and Feluda series, not this work. - Arun Joshi: Known for novels like 'The Foreigner' and 'The Strange Case of Billy Biswas', not 'The Householder'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 13 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q196. Who is the author of the book 'Above Average'?

  1. (a) Amit Varma
  2. (b) Amitabha Bagchi
  3. (c) Anita Nair
  4. (d) Amish Tripathi
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Amitabha Bagchi

'Above Average' is a novel written by Amitabha Bagchi, an Indian author and IIT professor known for works such as 'The Householder' and 'This Place'. Amit Varma is known for 'My Friend Sancho'; Anita Nair for 'Ladies Coupe'; Amish Tripathi for the Shiva Trilogy — all different works unrelated to 'Above Average'.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 13 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q197. ' Pinjar ', a book portraying the trauma of Partition, has been written by which Indian author?

  1. (a) Krishna Sobti
  2. (b) Amrita Pritam
  3. (c) Ismat Chughtai
  4. (d) Mahadevi Verma
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Amrita Pritam

' Pinjar ' (meaning The Skeleton/Cage) is a celebrated novel written by Amrita Pritam in Punjabi (1950), depicting the horror and trauma of the Partition of India through the story of a Hindu woman abducted during Partition. It was later made into a film in 2003. Krishna Sobti wrote 'Mitro Marjani'; Ismat Chughtai wrote ' Lihaaf '; Mahadevi Verma was a Hindi poetess — all different from Pinjar .
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 13 November 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q198. Who is the author of the book 'The Namesake'?

  1. (a) Arundhati Roy
  2. (b) Satyajit Ray
  3. (c) Jhumpa Lahiri
  4. (d) Arun Joshi
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Jhumpa Lahiri

Correct Answer: Jhumpa Lahiri
'The Namesake' is a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, published in 2003. It tells the story of an Indian immigrant family, the Ganguli family, and their experiences in the United States. The novel was later adapted into a 2006 film directed by Mira Nair. Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut short story collection 'Interpreter of Maladies.'
Why other options are wrong:
- Arundhati Roy: Known for 'The God of Small Things' (1997 Booker Prize winner).
- Satyajit Ray: Renowned filmmaker and author, known for the Feluda detective series.
- Arun Joshi: Known for 'The Foreigner' and 'The Strange Case of Billy Biswas.'
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 13 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q199. Who is the author of a travel book 'From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet', which won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award?

  1. (a) Sarah Joseph
  2. (b) Rohit Lal
  3. (c) Kanchana Banerjee
  4. (d) Vikram Seth
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Vikram Seth

Vikram Seth, the celebrated Indian author best known for 'A Suitable Boy', wrote 'From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet' (1983). This travelogue describes his journey from China to India via Sinkiang and Tibet, and it won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. Why others are wrong: - Sarah Joseph: A Malayalam novelist, not known for this work. - Rohit Lal: Not associated with this book. - Kanchana Banerjee: Not the author of this work.
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 12 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q200. Who is the author of the book 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People'?

  1. (a) Janice Pariat
  2. (b) Madhuri Vijay
  3. (c) Neel Mukherjee
  4. (d) Manu Joseph
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Manu Joseph

Manu Joseph, an Indian author and journalist, wrote 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People' (2012), set in the city of Madras (Chennai). Janice Pariat wrote 'Seahorse'; Madhuri Vijay wrote 'The Far Field'; Neel Mukherjee wrote 'The Lives of Others' — all are different works.
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