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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 3 of 3.

📚 298 questionsSSC 266 · Railway 32
123
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 12 November 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q201. 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

Correct Answer: Manu Joseph
'The Illicit Happiness of Other People' is a novel by Manu Joseph, an Indian author and journalist. Published in 2012, it is set in Chennai and explores the story of a father investigating his son's mysterious death.
Why other options are wrong:
- Janice Pariat: Known for 'Boats on Land' and 'Everything the Light Touches.'
- Madhuri Vijay: Known for her debut novel 'The Far Field' (2019).
- Neel Mukherjee: Known for 'The Lives of Others' and 'A State of Freedom.'
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 12 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q202. Who is the author of the book 'In an Antique Land'?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Manu Joseph
  3. (c) Neel Mukherjee
  4. (d) Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amitav Ghosh

Correct Answer: Amitav Ghosh
'In an Antique Land' is a celebrated non-fiction travelogue-cum-history by Amitav Ghosh, published in 1992. The book weaves together two narratives: Ghosh's own experiences living in an Egyptian village in the 1980s, and his historical research into a 12th-century Jewish merchant's slave mentioned in the Cairo Geniza documents.
Why other options are wrong:
- Manu Joseph: Author of 'The Illicit Happiness of Other People' and 'Serious Men.'
- Neel Mukherjee: Author of 'The Lives of Others' and 'A State of Freedom.'
- Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi: Author of 'The Last Song of Dusk' and 'Loss.'
SSC CHSL Tier-1 2025 – 12 November 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q203. Who is the author of the book 'Love Is Always Right and Other Musings'?

  1. (a) Ravinder Singh
  2. (b) Vinita Dawra Nangia
  3. (c) Ravi Subramanian
  4. (d) Novoneel Chakraborty
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Vinita Dawra Nangia

Correct Answer: Vinita Dawra Nangia
'Love Is Always Right and Other Musings' is authored by Vinita Dawra Nangia, a senior journalist and author known for her column 'O-zone' in The Times of India. She has written extensively on relationships, lifestyle, and human emotions.
Why other options are wrong:
- Ravinder Singh: Known for romantic novels like 'I Too Had a Love Story.'
- Ravi Subramanian: Known for financial thrillers like 'If God Was a Banker.'
- Novoneel Chakraborty: Known for thriller series like 'Stranger Trilogy.'
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 14 October 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q204. Which American author won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2020 for 'The Nickel Boys'?

  1. (a) Colson Whitehead
  2. (b) Jesmyn Ward
  3. (c) Ta-Nehisi Coates
  4. (d) Tommy Orange
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2020 for 'The Nickel Boys'.
He also won the Pulitzer for 'The Underground Railroad' in 2017.
Answer: Option 1 (Colson Whitehead)
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 24 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q205. Who is the author of the book "The Great Indian Novel"?

  1. (a) Devdutt Pattanaik
  2. (b) Shashi Tharoor
  3. (c) Sanjeev Sanyal
  4. (d) Gurcharan Das
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Shashi Tharoor

"The Great Indian Novel" (1989) is a satirical novel by Shashi Tharoor that retells the Mahabharata in the context of 20th-century Indian politics.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 24 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q206. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the author and thematic focus of the novel "A Fine Balance"?

  1. (a) Salman Rushdie, focusing on post-colonial identity and magical realism
  2. (b) Rohinton Mistry, exploring social injustices during India's Emergency period
  3. (c) Jhumpa Lahiri, depicting the immigrant experience in 1980s New York
  4. (d) Arundhati Roy, examining environmental activism and political corruption
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Rohinton Mistry, exploring social injustices during India's Emergency period

"A Fine Balance" (1995) is a novel by Rohinton Mistry set in mid-1970s India during the Emergency, exploring the social injustices faced by ordinary people of different castes and classes.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 24 September 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q207. Which American author received the Pulitzer Prize for "Beloved" and was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993?

  1. (a) Toni Morrison
  2. (b) Alice Walker
  3. (c) Maya Angelou
  4. (d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988 for "Beloved" and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
Alice Walker won a Pulitzer for "The Color Purple"; Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston did not win the Nobel.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 23 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q208. Consider the following statements about 'Negotiating Mughal Law' by Nandini Chatterjee:
1) The book explores legal pluralism and property rights through a landlord family's experience.
2) It is a literary biography focusing on Mughal emperors' personal lives.
Which is/are correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only statement 1 is correct

Statement 1 is CORRECT: it examines legal pluralism through a landlord family's experience.
Statement 2 is INCORRECT: it is a historical-legal study, not a literary biography.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 23 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q209. Who is the author of the book 'The Elephant Paradigm'?

  1. (a) Nandan Nilekani
  2. (b) Raghuram Rajan
  3. (c) Gurcharan Das
  4. (d) Shashi Tharoor
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Gurcharan Das

'The Elephant Paradigm: India Wrestles with Change' (2002) was written by Gurcharan Das.
It examines India's economic reforms and social changes after 1991.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 23 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q210. What is the central theme of the book 'The Tatas' by Girish Kubera and Vikrant Pande?

  1. (a) The Tata family's growth in early modern India
  2. (b) The influence of Tata family on India's industrial policies
  3. (c) The Tata family's role in building Indian industry and society
  4. (d) A fictional narrative about Tata family's business empire's moral conflicts
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) The Tata family's role in building Indian industry and society

'The Tatas' chronicles the family-business dynasty from its founding by Jamsetji Tata to the present, focusing on the Tatas' role in building Indian industry and society.
It is a non-fiction work rather than a fictional narrative.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 22 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q211. What is the central theme of the book 'Friend of My Youth' by Amit Chaudhuri?

  1. (a) A collection of interconnected stories exploring Indian family and identity
  2. (b) A historical account of India's independence struggle
  3. (c) A travelogue about India's diverse landscapes
  4. (d) A biography of a famous Indian politician
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) A collection of interconnected stories exploring Indian family and identity

'Friend of My Youth' (2017) by Amit Chaudhuri is a meditative novel that explores Indian family life, memory, friendship and identity, told through a writer revisiting his old city of Bombay.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 22 September 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q212. Consider the following statements about the book 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian':
1) It received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction due to its unique narrative style and significant influence on American historical literature.
2) The novel won the National Book Award for its deep portrayal of Native American identity and youth struggles.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Only statement 2 is correct

The book by Sherman Alexie won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007), so statement 2 is correct.
It did not win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so statement 1 is incorrect.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 22 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q213. What is the primary focus of the book India for Indians by Chitta Ranjan Das?

  1. (a) Advocacy for Indian self-rule during the freedom struggle
  2. (b) A detailed history of India's ancient empires
  3. (c) A study of India's economic reforms post-independence
  4. (d) A biography of Mahatma Gandhi
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Advocacy for Indian self-rule during the freedom struggle

C.R. Das's 'India for Indians' argued for Indian self-government (swaraj) during the freedom movement.
It is not a history of ancient empires, an economic study, or a biography of Gandhi.
Hence advocacy for Indian self-rule is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 21 September 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q214. Which of the following best encapsulates the core philosophy presented in Shane Watson's book 'The Winner's Mindset'?

  1. (a) Technical manual on cricket techniques
  2. (b) Sociological study of sports and gender
  3. (c) Psychological resilience and strategic adaptability in elite sports
  4. (d) Biography of Shane Watson's cricket career
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Psychological resilience and strategic adaptability in elite sports

Shane Watson's 'The Winner's Mindset' focuses on psychological resilience and strategic adaptability in elite sports, drawing on his cricketing experience.
It is not a technical manual, sociological study, or biography.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 21 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q215. Consider the following statements about the book 'India on Our Minds':
1) The book offers an insightful analysis of India's economic growth and social challenges.
2) It is a fictional novel about India's freedom struggle.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. (a) (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) (d) Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) (a) Only statement 1 is correct

'India on Our Minds' is a non-fiction work giving analysis of India's economic growth and social challenges.
It is not a fictional novel about the freedom struggle.
Hence only Statement 1 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 21 September 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q216. Consider the following statements about the book 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:
1) The novel employs magical realism to narrate the rise and fall of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.
2) It presents a linear historical account focused solely on Colombia's political events in the 20th century.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only statement 1 is correct

Statement 1 is correct: the novel uses magical realism to trace seven generations of the Buendía family in fictional Macondo.
Statement 2 is incorrect: the narrative is non-linear and is not solely focused on Colombia's 20th-century politics — it blends myth, fantasy and history.
Hence, only statement 1 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 20 September 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q217. What is the primary focus of Peter Frankopan's book 'The Silk Roads: A New History of the World'?

  1. (a) The colonization of the Americas by European powers
  2. (b) The trade disputes between ancient Rome and China
  3. (c) A global history centered on cultural and political exchanges along the Silk Road regions
  4. (d) The history of Western Europe from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A global history centered on cultural and political exchanges along the Silk Road regions

- Frankopan's 'The Silk Roads' recenters global history away from Europe toward Central Asia and Silk Road regions.
- It covers cultural, economic, and political exchanges across the ancient trading routes over millennia.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 20 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q218. What is the primary literary significance of the book 'Bonkers!' by Natasha Sharma?

  1. (a) Known as a memoir of rural life
  2. (b) Known as a historical epic on colonial India
  3. (c) Known for experimental style and social themes
  4. (d) Known as a science fiction on future societies
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Known for experimental style and social themes

Natasha Sharma's 'Bonkers!' is known for its experimental, witty narrative style and engagement with social themes accessible to younger readers.
It is not a memoir, historical epic or science fiction.
Hence, Option 3 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 20 September 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q219. What is the central theme of the book 'India's Revolutionary Inheritance' by Chris Moffat?

  1. (a) The economic reforms and liberalisation policies of modern India
  2. (b) The global connections of Indian revolutionaries in the 20th century
  3. (c) The legacy of Bhagat Singh in India's political memory and imagination
  4. (d) The parliamentary development of India's postcolonial governance
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) The legacy of Bhagat Singh in India's political memory and imagination

Chris Moffat's 'India's Revolutionary Inheritance: Politics and the Promise of Bhagat Singh' focuses on the enduring legacy of Bhagat Singh in India's political memory, imagination and contemporary politics.
The book is not primarily about economic reforms, global revolutionary networks, or parliamentary governance.
Hence, Option 3 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 19 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q220. 'Half the Night is Gone' is written by which Sahitya Akademi winner?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Amit Chaudhuri
  3. (c) Anuradha Roy
  4. (d) Amitabha Bagchi
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Amitabha Bagchi

"Half the Night is Gone" (2018) is written by Amitabha Bagchi.
It won the Sahitya Akademi Award for English in 2019.
Hence the answer is Amitabha Bagchi.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 19 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q221. Who is the author of 'Sleeping on Jupiter', a novel longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2015?

  1. (a) Kiran Desai
  2. (b) Anuradha Roy
  3. (c) Jhumpa Lahiri
  4. (d) T.N. Ninan
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Anuradha Roy

'Sleeping on Jupiter' is a novel by Indian authorAnuradha Roy.
It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015.
Hence the answer isAnuradha Roy.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 18 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q222. Who is the author of the book 'The Argumentative Indian'?

  1. (a) Amartya Sen
  2. (b) Shashi Tharoor
  3. (c) Ramachandra Guha
  4. (d) Arvind Subramanian
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Amartya Sen

'The Argumentative Indian' was written by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen. Answer: Amartya Sen
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 18 September 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q223. An Area of Darkness is a travelogue by which Indian author?

  1. (a) Raja Rao
  2. (b) V.S. Naipaul
  3. (c) R.K. Narayan
  4. (d) Vikram Seth
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) V.S. Naipaul

"An Area of Darkness" (1964) is the first of V.S. Naipaul's India travelogues.
Raja Rao, R.K. Narayan and Vikram Seth wrote fiction, not this travelogue.
Hence the answer isV.S. Naipaul.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 18 September 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q224. 'The Namesake' is a famous novel by which Indian-American author?

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

Answer: (a) Jhumpa Lahiri

• 'The Namesake' (2003) is written by Jhumpa Lahiri.
• The novel depicts the life of the Ganguli family who emigrate from Kolkata to the United States.
• Jhumpa Lahiri also won the Pulitzer Prize for her debut short story collection 'Interpreter of Maladies'.
• Answer: Jhumpa Lahiri
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 17 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q225. . Who is the author of the book 'School to Startup: Navigating the Path of Entrepreneurship'?

  1. (a) Rohit Sinha
  2. (b) Romila Thapar
  3. (c) Bipin Chandra
  4. (d) Shashi Tharoor
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Rohit Sinha

'School to Startup: Navigating the Path of Entrepreneurship' is authored by Rohit Sinha.
Romila Thapar and Bipin Chandra are historians; Shashi Tharoor writes on politics and history.
Hence the author is Rohit Sinha.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 17 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q226. Who wrote 'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India'?

  1. (a) Shashi Tharoor
  2. (b) Vikram Seth
  3. (c) Pavan Varma
  4. (d) Romila Thapar
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Shashi Tharoor

'An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India' was written by Shashi Tharoor.
It is a critical account of British colonial rule in India.
Vikram Seth, Pavan Varma and Romila Thapar are unrelated to this book.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 17 September 2025 Shift 3 · Ancient and medieval books

Q227. Which classical musical treatise, composed in the 13th century CE by Sharangadeva in Maharashtra, is considered a foundational text in Indian musicology?

  1. (a) Natya Shastra
  2. (b) Sangeet Sudha
  3. (c) Sangeet Ratnakara
  4. (d) Abhinaya Darpana
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Sangeet Ratnakara

Sangeet Ratnakara was composed in the 13th century by Sharangadeva and is a foundational treatise of Indian classical music.
Natya Shastra is by Bharata Muni; Abhinaya Darpana is by Nandikeshvara; Sangeet Sudha is a later work.
Hence the answer is Sangeet Ratnakara.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 17 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q228. Who authored 'The White Tiger', winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize?

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

Answer: (a) Aravind Adiga

'The White Tiger' was authored byAravind Adigaand won the 2008 Man Booker Prize.
Arundhati Roy won the Booker in 1997 for 'The God of Small Things'.
Hence the correct answer is Aravind Adiga.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 16 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q229. Who wrote ‘Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent’?

  1. (a) Sanjeev Sanyal
  2. (b) Pranay Lal
  3. (c) Rohan Murty
  4. (d) Tony Joseph
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Pranay Lal

‘Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent’ is written by Pranay Lal.
Sanjeev Sanyal, Rohan Murty and Tony Joseph have written other notable books but not this one.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 16 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q230. Consider the following statements about the book 'Being Indian' by Pavan K. Varma:
1) The book won the Vodafone Crossword Book Award for exploring Indian identity and culture.
2) It received the Sahitya Akademi Award for its contributions to Indian English poetry.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only statement 1 is correct

• Literary GK:
• 'Being Indian' by Pavan K. Varma won the Vodafone Crossword Book Award — Statement 1 CORRECT ✓
• 'Being Indian' is a non-fiction work about Indian identity and character, NOT a poetry collection — Statement 2 (Sahitya Akademi for poetry) is INCORRECT ✗
• Answer: Only statement 1 is correct
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 16 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q231. What is the theme of Avni Doshi's Burnt Sugar, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2020?

  1. (a) Romantic tale in pre-independence India
  2. (b) Political thriller in Delhi
  3. (c) Complex mother-daughter bond
  4. (d) Historical fiction on India-Persia trade
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Complex mother-daughter bond

Avni Doshi’s ‘Burnt Sugar’ explores a fraught, complex mother-daughter relationship in modern India and was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize.
The other options misrepresent its theme.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 15 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q232. Who wrote the novel Sahela Re?

  1. (a) Vasanti Muzumdar
  2. (b) Mrinal Pande
  3. (c) Priyanka Sarkar
  4. (d) Shubhangi Tiwari
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Mrinal Pande

‘ Sahela Re’ is a celebrated Hindi novel written by Mrinal Pande, dealing with the world of Hindustani classical music and women performers.
None of the other listed names is the author.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 15 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q233. Which of the following best describes the theme of the book Why Bharat Matters?

  1. (a) India’s economic and cultural importance
  2. (b) Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
  3. (c) Ancient mythology of India and festival
  4. (d) Fictional rural story and moral values
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) India’s economic and cultural importance

‘Why Bharat Matters’ by S. Jaishankar discusses India’s rising global stature, its economic, cultural, civilizational and strategic importance.
It is neither a biography of Gandhi, nor mythology or fiction.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 15 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q234. Which of the following best describes 'Arranged Marriage' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni?

  1. (a) Stories exploring immigrant life, cultural identity, and arranged marriage challenges.
  2. (b) Historical novel on India's independence movement.
  3. (c) Fantasy saga blending mythology and politics.
  4. (d) Scientific study of social customs and psychology
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Stories exploring immigrant life, cultural identity, and arranged marriage challenges.

• 'Arranged Marriage' (1995) by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a collection of short stories.
• The stories explore the lives of Indian and Indian-American women navigating immigrant life, cultural identity clashes, and the challenges of arranged marriages.
• It is not a historical novel (B), fantasy (C), or academic study (D).
• Answer: Stories exploring immigrant life, cultural identity, and arranged marriage challenges.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 14 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q235. Consider the following statements about 'The Vine of Desire' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni:
1) Explores cultural conflicts in an Indian immigrant family across generations.
2) A historical account of India's freedom struggle and politics.
3) A science fiction tale about identity and technology in future India.
Which of the above statements is correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Statements 2 and 3 both are correct
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3 all are correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only statement 1 is correct

'The Vine of Desire' (2002) is a novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni that follows two Indian-American cousins, Anju and Sudha, and explores cultural conflicts within an Indian immigrant family, marriage, identity and inter-generational tensions — so Statement 1 is correct.
The novel is neither a historical account of India's freedom struggle nor a science-fiction tale — Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
Hence only Statement 1 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 14 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q236. Which of the following statements best captures the essence of the book Because Words Matter?

  1. (a) Language's role in social justice
  2. (b) Ancient Sanskrit grammar
  3. (c) Novel on colonial India
  4. (d) Linguist's critique of post-colonial English
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Language's role in social justice

'Because Words Matter' explores how language shapes thought, identity, and ultimately social justice, examining how the words we choose can perpetuate or challenge inequality.
It is neither a Sanskrit-grammar work, a colonial-era novel, nor a critique limited to post-colonial English.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 14 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q237. Read the below statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark the correct options:
Assertion (A): The Moor's Last Sigh is acclaimed for its intricate narrative that blends historical events with magical realism to explore Indian identity and politics.
Reason (R): The novel won the Booker Prize for its innovative storytelling and profound cultural insights.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. (c) A is true, but R is false
  4. (d) A is false, but R is true
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false

Assertion A: The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie does blend historical events with magical realism to explore Indian identity. A is TRUE.
Reason R: The Moor's Last Sigh did NOT win the Booker Prize. Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children' won the Booker Prize. R is FALSE.
Answer: A is true, but R is false.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 13 September 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q238. Which statement accurately represents the connection between 'Heart: A History' by Sandeep Jauhar and the Edgar Award for Best Novel?

  1. (a) Nominated for Edgar Award for blending medical history and mystery
  2. (b) Won Edgar Award as pioneering medical fiction
  3. (c) Received Edgar Award for fictional cardiac surgery
  4. (d) Non-fiction memoir, ineligible for Edgar Award
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Non-fiction memoir, ineligible for Edgar Award

'Heart: A History' (2018) by Sandeep Jauhar is a non-fiction work that traces the history of cardiac surgery interwoven with the author's own experiences as a cardiologist.
The Edgar Award for Best Novel is given by the Mystery Writers of America to fiction in the mystery genre.
A non-fiction medical memoir is not eligible for the Edgar Award.
Hence the correct option is: Non-fiction memoir, ineligible for Edgar Award.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 13 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q239. Read the below statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark the correct options:
Assertion (A): Last Man in Tower explores the moral and ethical conflicts faced by residents during rapid urban development and real estate pressures in Mumbai.
Reason (R): The novel focuses on the historical evolution of Mumbai's architecture and its colonial past.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true, but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false.

• About the novel 'Last Man in Tower' by Aravind Adiga:
• Assertion A: The novel does explore moral and ethical conflicts of residents facing real estate pressure in Mumbai — TRUE ✓
• Reason R: The novel does NOT focus on historical evolution of Mumbai's architecture or its colonial past. It is about modern-day real estate conflict — FALSE.
• A is true, R is false → Option C
• Answer: C
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 13 September 2025 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q240. Which statements about "The Neeraj Chopra Story: The Man Who Made History" are correct?
1) It details Neeraj's training, mindset, and challenges.
2) It was written by his former Olympian coach.

  1. (a) Only 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only 2 is correct
  3. (c) Both 1 and 2 are correct
  4. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only 1 is correct

Statement 1 — Correct. The book chronicles Neeraj Chopra's training, mindset and challenges en route to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold.
Statement 2 — Incorrect. The book is authored by Navdeep Singh Gill, not by Neeraj's former Olympian coach.
Hence only Statement 1 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 12 September 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q241. Which of the following statements best captures the essence of "Landscapes of Loss: The Story of an Indian Drought" by Kavitha Iyer?

  1. (a) A study on drought's human and ecological impacts in India.
  2. (b) A fictional story about a family in a drought-hit area.
  3. (c) A history of monsoon patterns and ancient agriculture in India.
  4. (d) A colonial-era policy analysis of water management.
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) A study on drought's human and ecological impacts in India.

Kavitha Iyer's book documents the human and ecological impacts of recurring droughts in Marathwada, India.
It is non-fiction (not a fictional story).
Hence, the answer is option 1.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 12 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q242. Consider the following statements about 'The Adventures of Kakababu, Volume 1' by Sunil Gangopadhyaya:
1) A pioneering Bengali adventure novel featuring detective Kakababu with mystery and cultural themes.
2) A political satire on post-independence Indian governance.
3) An autobiography of the author's freedom fighter experiences in Bengal.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. (a) Only statement 1 is correct
  2. (b) Only statement 2 is correct
  3. (c) Statements 2 and 3 are correct
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Only statement 1 is correct

Sunil Gangopadhyay's Kakababu series is a popular Bengali adventure-mystery series whose protagonist Raja Roy Chowdhury (Kakababu) solves cases set across cultural and historical backgrounds — so statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2 is wrong: the Kakababu books are not a political satire on Indian governance.
Statement 3 is wrong: the work is fiction, not the author's autobiography of freedom-fighter experiences.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
SSC CGL Tier-1 2025 – 12 September 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q243. Which of the following best describes the theme of the book 'Hot Stage'?

  1. (a) A collection of modern Indian plays on social issues
  2. (b) A historical account of India's independence movement
  3. (c) A novel about ancient Indian mythology
  4. (d) A travelogue about the Himalayas
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) A collection of modern Indian plays on social issues

• Literary GK:
• 'Hot Stage' is a collection of contemporary/modern Indian plays that deal with social issues.
• It features Indian theatrical works addressing societal problems and human conditions.
• Options B, C, and D do not match the actual content of the book.
RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 2 September 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q244. Gitanjali, a famous collection of poems, was originally written in which of the following languages?

  1. (a) English
  2. (b) Urdu
  3. (c) Hindi
  4. (d) Bengali
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Bengali

SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 August 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q245. Which of these Nobel Prize-winning authors did NOT win the Pulitzer Prize?

  1. (a) Ernest Hemingway
  2. (b) Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  3. (c) William Faulkner
  4. (d) John Steinbeck
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Colombian author, Nobel Prize in Literature 1982 for 'One Hundred Years of Solitude') did NOT win the Pulitzer Prize. The Pulitzer Prize is awarded by Columbia University for American journalism and arts — Garcia Marquez was a Latin American author and not eligible for the Pulitzer under standard categories.
Option 1 (Ernest Hemingway): Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 for 'The Old Man and the Sea'; also won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
Option 3 (William Faulkner): Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice — 1955 for 'A Fable' and 1963 for 'The Reivers'; won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949.
Option 4 (John Steinbeck): Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940 for 'The Grapes of Wrath'; won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 August 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q246. Which of the following statements correctly relates to the book The Argumentative Indian?
1. It is a collection of essays that examine India's intellectual history, identity, and secular traditions.
2. The author of the book is a Nobel laureate in Literature who also won the Booker Prize for the same work.
3. The essays reflect the influence of figures like Tagore, Ashoka, and Akbar on India's democratic discourse.

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

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Correct Answer: Option 3 – 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 (TRUE): 'The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity' (2005) by Amartya Sen is indeed a collection of essays examining India's long tradition of debate, heterodoxy, intellectual pluralism, and secular democratic values.
Statement 2 (FALSE): Amartya Sen won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1998) — NOT the Nobel Prize in Literature. Additionally, 'The Argumentative Indian' did NOT win the Booker Prize — the Booker Prize is for fiction, and this is a non-fiction work of essays. Sen is an economist, not a literature laureate.
Statement 3 (TRUE): The essays in 'The Argumentative Indian' prominently discuss figures like Rabindranath Tagore (intellectual pluralism), Ashoka (tolerance and public reasoning), and Akbar (religious pluralism and secularism) as exemplars of India's democratic and argumentative tradition.
Only Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 28 August 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q247. Which of the following Bengali writers composed the famous novel Anandamath?

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

Answer: (a) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 22 August 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q248. Which of the following authors penned the novel "Midnight's Children," famous for its fusion of historical narratives with elements of magical realism?

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

Answer: (d) Salman Rushdie

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 19 August 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q249. Which of the following Indian English writers created the fictional town of Malgudi?

  1. (a) Raja Rao
  2. (b) RK Narayan
  3. (c) Mulk Raj Anand
  4. (d) Khushwant Singh
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) RK Narayan

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 19 August 2025 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q250. 'Diyaslai’ is the autobiography of which social activist of India, on which the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture held a dedicated discussion in February 2025 in an event graced by former President Ram Nath Kovind as the chief guest?

  1. (a) Kamla Bhasin
  2. (b) Kailash Satyarthi
  3. (c) Laxmi Agarwal
  4. (d) Kiran Bedi
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Kailash Satyarthi

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 19 August 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q251. Which of the following languages is most notably associated with the literary contributions of Girish Karnad, exemplified by his acclaimed play 'Tughlaq'?

  1. (a) Marathi
  2. (b) Kannada
  3. (c) Tamil
  4. (d) Telugu
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Kannada

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 14 August 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q252. Rabindranath Tagore's "Geetanjali," which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913, is best classified as which form of writing?

  1. (a) A collection of short stories
  2. (b) A collection of poetry
  3. (c) A play
  4. (d) A novel
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) A collection of poetry

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2024-25 – 12 August 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q253. Who among the following wrote the novel Godaan, which is considered a classic of modern Hindi literature?

  1. (a) Rabindranath Tagore
  2. (b) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
  3. (c) RK Narayan
  4. (d) Munshi Premchand
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Munshi Premchand

SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 2 August 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q254. Which of the following statements accurately describes 'The War That Made R&AW' by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket?

  1. (a) Detailed history of India's external intelligence and geopolitics
  2. (b) Fictional Cold War espionage thriller
  3. (c) Memoir of a former R&AW agent
  4. (d) Critique of post-2000 domestic intelligence reforms
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Detailed history of India's external intelligence and geopolitics

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Detailed history of India's external intelligence and geopolitics
'The War That Made R&AW' by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket is a non-fiction work that provides a detailed history of how the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) was created in the context of the 1971 India-Pakistan War (Liberation War of Bangladesh). It covers India's external intelligence operations and the geopolitical context surrounding the creation and early years of R&AW.
Option 2 (Fictional Cold War espionage thriller): The book is non-fiction history, not a fictional thriller.
Option 3 (Memoir of a former R&AW agent): It is a historical account by researchers/journalists, not a personal memoir by an intelligence officer.
Option 4 (Critique of post-2000 domestic intelligence reforms): The book focuses on the 1971 war period and R&AW's formation; not a post-2000 domestic reform critique.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q255. Which author won the Booker Prize for the novel "The God of Small Things"?

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

Answer: (b) Arundhati Roy

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel 'The God of Small Things,' a story set in Kerala exploring themes of caste, forbidden love, and colonial legacy.
Option 1 (Ruskin Bond): A celebrated Indian author known for works like 'The Blue Umbrella'; never won the Booker Prize.
Option 3 (R.K. Narayan): Famous for the Malgudi series; never won the Booker Prize.
Option 4 (Anita Desai): Shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times (1980, 1984, 1999) but never won.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 1 · International books and authors

Q256. Which book won Jhumpa Lahiri the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000?

  1. (a) The Namesake
  2. (b) Unaccustomed Earth
  3. (c) The Lowland
  4. (d) Interpreter of Maladies
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Interpreter of Maladies

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Interpreter of Maladies
'Interpreter of Maladies' is a short story collection by Jhumpa Lahiri, published in 1999. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000, making Lahiri one of the first South Asian-American writers to receive this prestigious award.
Option 1 (The Namesake): Jhumpa Lahiri's first novel (2003); did not win the Pulitzer Prize.
Option 2 (Unaccustomed Earth): Her second short story collection (2008); critically acclaimed but not a Pulitzer winner.
Option 3 (The Lowland): Her second novel (2013); shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the National Book Award, but not the Pulitzer winner.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q257. Who wrote the book "Mein Kampf"?

  1. (a) Adolf Hitler
  2. (b) Joseph Goebbels
  3. (c) Heinrich Himmler
  4. (d) Rudolf Hess
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Adolf Hitler

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Adolf Hitler
'Mein Kampf' (meaning 'My Struggle') was written by Adolf Hitler while he was imprisoned in Landsberg Prison in 1924, after the failed Beer Hall Putsch. The book outlines his political ideology, anti-Semitic views, and plans for Germany.
Option 2 (Joseph Goebbels): He was Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda and is known for his personal diaries, not Mein Kampf.
Option 3 (Heinrich Himmler): He was the head of the SS (Schutzstaffel); not the author of Mein Kampf.
Option 4 (Rudolf Hess): He was Hitler's deputy who flew to Britain in 1941; not the author of Mein Kampf.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 2 · Ancient and medieval books

Q258. Which year is considered the approximate composition period of the Natya Shastra, the earliest known treatise on Indian music and dance?

  1. (a) 200 BCE
  2. (b) 1000 BCE
  3. (c) 500 CE
  4. (d) 1500 CE
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) 200 BCE

TheNatya Shastrais widely believed to have been composed between200 BCE and 200 CE.
Composition Period and Key Facts
Period:Approximately 200 BCE – 200 CE.
Author:Traditionally attributed to the sageBharat Muni.
Significance:It is the foundational text for Indian classical dance, drama, and music, detailing theRasas(emotions) andAbhinaya(expressions).
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 2 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q259. The book 'The Accidental Prime Minister' by Sanjaya Baru is based on which of the following Indian Prime Minister's life?

  1. (a) Indira Gandhi
  2. (b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
  3. (c) Rajiv Gandhi
  4. (d) Manmohan Singh
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Manmohan Singh

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Manmohan Singh
'The Accidental Prime Minister' (2014) by Sanjaya Baru is a memoir based on the political life and tenure of Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of India (2004–2014). Baru served as the Media Advisor to PM Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008, and the book offers an insider account of his government.
Option 1 (Indira Gandhi): No book by Sanjaya Baru is based on her life.
Option 2 (Atal Bihari Vajpayee): Not the subject of this book.
Option 3 (Rajiv Gandhi): Not the subject of this book.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 1 August 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q260. Which of these books was NOT written by Khushwant Singh?

  1. (a) Train to Pakistan
  2. (b) The Company of Women
  3. (c) A Suitable Boy
  4. (d) The History of Sikhs
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A Suitable Boy

Correct Answer: Option 3 – A Suitable Boy
'A Suitable Boy' (1993) is a novel written by Vikram Seth, not Khushwant Singh. It is one of the longest novels published in the English language.
Option 1 (Train to Pakistan): Written by Khushwant Singh (1956), a classic novel about the Partition of India.
Option 2 (The Company of Women): Written by Khushwant Singh (1999).
Option 4 (The History of Sikhs): A comprehensive two-volume history of the Sikh people written by Khushwant Singh.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 31 July 2025 Shift 1 · Ancient and medieval books

Q261. Who is the author of the famous Indian collection of fables, Panchatantra?

  1. (a) Vishnu Sharma
  2. (b) Bhasa
  3. (c) Kalidasa
  4. (d) Dandin
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Vishnu Sharma

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Vishnu Sharma
The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit, attributed to the scholar Vishnu Sharma (estimated 3rd century BCE). It was composed to educate three princes of the Amarasakti kingdom in niti (worldly wisdom, statecraft, and practical ethics) through engaging stories. Divided into five tantras (books): Mitra- bheda (Loss of Friends), Mitra- samprapti (Gaining Friends), Kakolukiyam (Crows and Owls), Labdhapranasam (Loss of Gains), and Aparikshitakaraka (Hasty Action). The Panchatantra has been translated into over 50 languages and influenced Aesop's Fables and Arabian Nights.
Option 2 ( Bhasa ): A classical Sanskrit playwright (c. 3rd century CE) known for dramas like Svapnavasavadatta — not the Panchatantra.
Option 3 (Kalidasa): The greatest Sanskrit poet and playwright — author of Abhijnanasakuntalam, Meghaduta , Raghuvamsa — not the Panchatantra.
Option 4 (Dandin): A 7th-century Sanskrit scholar known for Dasakumaracharita and Kavyadarsha — not the Panchatantra.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 31 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q262. Who is the author of the Booker Prize-winning novel 'Midnight's Children'?

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

Answer: (b) Salman Rushdie

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Salman Rushdie
Midnight's Children (1981) was written by Salman Rushdie, a British-Indian novelist. The novel won the Booker Prize (1981) and later the Booker of Bookers (1993 and 2008) — voted the best Booker Prize winner of all time in two separate polls. The novel is a magical realist work about Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment of India's independence (midnight, August 15, 1947), and his supernatural connection with other 'midnight's children' born in that same hour. It interweaves the history of post-independence India with Saleem's personal saga.
Option 1 (Vikram Seth): Author of A Suitable Boy (1993) and The Golden Gate — not Midnight's Children.
Option 3 (Jhumpa Lahiri): Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies — not Midnight's Children.
Option 4 (Amitav Ghosh): Author of The Shadow Lines, Sea of Poppies (Ibis Trilogy) — not Midnight's Children.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 31 July 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q263. Who is the author of the book 'The Mahabharata: An Inquiry in the Human Condition', which offers a critical philosophical analysis of the epic?

  1. (a) Devdutt Pattanaik
  2. (b) Badrinath Chaturvedi
  3. (c) Radhakrishnan Pillai
  4. (d) C. Rajagopalachari
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Badrinath Chaturvedi

The author of the book 'The Mahabharata: An Inquiry in the Human Condition' is the Indian philosopher and former civil servantChaturvedi Badrinath. Published in 2006, the critically acclaimed book explores the epic's profound relevance to ethics, existential dilemmas, and modern life.
The work is celebrated for its deep philosophical analysis, drawing on over 500 original Sanskrit shlokas translated by Badrinath himself to examine the fundamental aspects of dharma, morality, and human freedom. Chaturvedi Badrinath was posthumously awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademie Award in 2010 for this seminal contribution
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 30 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q264. _______ wrote the book 'Makers of Modern India'.

  1. (a) Ramchandra Guha
  2. (b) Harishankar Parsai
  3. (c) Patricia Lockwood
  4. (d) Sandhya Menon
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Ramchandra Guha

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Ramchandra Guha
'Makers of Modern India' (2010) is a book by Ramchandra Guha, the renowned Indian historian and biographer. The book is an anthology of writings by 19 Indian thinkers who shaped modern India, including Rammohan Roy, Jyotirao Phule, Gokhale, Tilak, Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, Periyar, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and others. Guha selected their key writings and provided biographical introductions. Ramchandra Guha is also known for 'India After Gandhi' (2007), 'Gandhi Before India' (2013), 'Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World' (2018), and 'Environmentalism: A Global History' (2000).
Option 2 (Harishankar Parsai ): A celebrated Hindi satirist and humorist; known for works like ' Ratnon ka Haar', 'Tanka, Bhonda aur Mot'; did not write 'Makers of Modern India'.
Option 3 (Patricia Lockwood): An American poet and memoirist (' Priestdaddy '); not related to Indian history.
Option 4 (Sandhya Menon): A contemporary Indian-American romance novelist; not related to modern Indian history.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 30 July 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q265. Which of the following books was written by Rabindranath Tagore?

  1. (a) Discovery of India
  2. (b) Gitanjali
  3. (c) Train to Pakistan
  4. (d) A Suitable Boy
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Gitanjali

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Gitanjali
Gitanjali (Song Offerings) is a celebrated collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore, originally written in Bengali (1910) and translated into English prose poems by Tagore himself (1912). It won Tagore the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 — making him the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature. W.B. Yeats wrote the introduction to the English edition. The collection's themes of devotion, spiritual quest, nature, and the relationship between the human and the divine made it universally acclaimed.
Option 1 (Discovery of India): Written by Jawaharlal Nehru (1946) while imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort — a survey of Indian history, culture, and civilization.
Option 3 (Train to Pakistan): Written by Khushwant Singh (1956) — a novel about the Partition of India.
Option 4 (A Suitable Boy): Written by Vikram Seth (1993) — a novel set in post-independence India.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 July 2025 Shift 1 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q266. The book "Wings of Fire" is an autobiography of?

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Abdul Kalam
  3. (c) R.K. Laxman
  4. (d) C.V. Raman
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Abdul Kalam

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Abdul Kalam
'Wings of Fire: An Autobiography' (1999) is the autobiography of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam), India's 11th President (2002–2007) and a renowned aerospace scientist. Written with Arun Tiwari, it chronicles Kalam's journey from humble origins in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to becoming a missile scientist at DRDO and ISRO (known as the 'Missile Man of India' for spearheading the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme — Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Nag). It has sold millions of copies and been translated into 13 languages.
Option 1 (Vikram Seth): Famous novelist known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate'; his autobiography is not titled 'Wings of Fire'.
Option 3 (R. K. Laxman): The legendary cartoonist of 'The Common Man'; his autobiography is 'The Tunnel of Time'.
Option 4 (C. V. Raman): Nobel laureate physicist (Raman Effect, 1930); did not write an autobiography titled 'Wings of Fire'.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q267. Who wrote the book "Train to Pakistan", based on the partition of India?

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

Answer: (b) Khushwant Singh

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Khushwant Singh
'Train to Pakistan' (1956) is a seminal novel by Khushwant Singh set in the fictional border village of Mano Majra (based on Hadali, his birthplace in pre-partition Punjab, now Pakistan) during the Partition of India in 1947. The novel depicts the communal harmony shattered by Partition, the mass migrations and killings, and the moral courage of Juggut Singh, a Sikh criminal, who sacrifices his life to prevent a trainload of Muslim refugees from being massacred. It is considered one of the finest works of Partition literature.
Option 1 (Mulk Raj Anand): Pioneer of Indian writing in English; known for 'Untouchable' (1935) and 'Coolie' (1936) — social realism about caste and poverty; not 'Train to Pakistan'.
Option 3 (Ruskin Bond): Beloved Anglo-Indian author from Mussoorie known for 'The Room on the Roof', 'A Flight of Pigeons'; not associated with Partition fiction.
Option 4 (Amitav Ghosh): Contemporary Indian author known for 'The Shadow Lines', 'The Glass Palace', 'Sea of Poppies'; his Partition-related work is 'The Shadow Lines', not 'Train to Pakistan'.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 July 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q268. Train to Pakistan, a novel set during the Partition of India, was authored by:

  1. (a) Vikram Seth
  2. (b) Amrita Pritam
  3. (c) Khushwant Singh
  4. (d) Anita Desai
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Khushwant Singh

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Khushwant Singh
'Train to Pakistan' (1956) is a landmark novel by Khushwant Singh set in the fictional border village of Mano Majra during the 1947 Partition. The novel depicts communal harmony shattered by Partition, mass migrations, and the moral courage of Juggut Singh who sacrifices his life to save Muslim refugees. It is considered one of the finest works of Partition literature in English.
Option 1 (Vikram Seth): Known for 'A Suitable Boy' (1993); did not write 'Train to Pakistan'.
Option 2 (Amrita Pritam): The legendary Punjabi poet who wrote ' Pinjar ' (The Skeleton, 1950) — another masterpiece of Partition literature — in Punjabi; not 'Train to Pakistan'.
Option 4 (Anita Desai): Prominent Indian novelist known for 'Clear Light of Day', 'In Custody'; not associated with Partition fiction of this type.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 29 July 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q269. Assertion (A): The collection "In A Forest, A Deer" by Ambai explores nuanced feminist themes through deeply personal and culturally rooted short stories.
Reason (R): Ambai's writing critically examines gender, identity, and social structures within contemporary Indian society.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A.
  3. (c) A is true, but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
Assertion (A) is TRUE: 'In A Forest, A Deer' is a celebrated short story collection by Ambai (pen name of C. S. Lakshmi), a prominent Tamil feminist writer. The collection, originally written in Tamil and translated into English, indeed explores nuanced feminist themes — women's autonomy, body, desire, tradition, and identity — through deeply personal, culturally embedded narratives set in South Indian contexts.
Reason (R) is TRUE: Ambai's body of work is distinguished by its critical examination of gender roles, female identity, patriarchal social structures, and the intersection of tradition and modernity in Indian (particularly Tamil) society. Her writing is consistently recognized as feminist literary criticism in narrative form.
R correctly explains A: The reason why 'In A Forest, A Deer' explores feminist themes (A) is precisely because Ambai as a writer critically examines gender, identity, and social structures (R) — R provides the authorial context and intent that explains the thematic content of A.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 28 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q270. Who is the author of the famous book "Gitanjali"?

  1. (a) Rabindranath Tagore
  2. (b) C. Rajagopalachari
  3. (c) R. K. Narayan
  4. (d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Rabindranath Tagore

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Rabindranath Tagore
Gitanjali (Song Offerings) is a collection of 103 English prose poems translated by Rabindranath Tagore from his own Bengali poems. It was published in 1910 (Bengali original) and 1912 (English translation). Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali — making him the first non-European and first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. W. B. Yeats wrote the preface to the English edition.
Option 2 (C. Rajagopalachari): A prominent Indian statesman, lawyer, and writer; authored works in Tamil and English but not Gitanjali.
Option 3 (R. K. Narayan): Famous for the Malgudi Days series (The Guide, Swami and Friends, etc.) — not Gitanjali.
Option 4 (Sarojini Naidu): The 'Nightingale of India' was a poet and freedom fighter; known for collections like The Golden Threshold, not Gitanjali.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 28 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q271. Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for which novel?

  1. (a) The God of Small Things
  2. (b) Midnight's Children
  3. (c) White Tiger
  4. (d) The Guide
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) The God of Small Things

Correct Answer: Option 1 – The God of Small Things
Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel 'The God of Small Things.' The novel is set in Kerala and explores the lives of fraternal twins Rahel and Estha, touching on themes of caste, love, and social norms. It was an international bestseller and remains her most celebrated work. Roy was the first Indian woman to win the Booker Prize.
Option 2 (Midnight's Children): Written by Salman Rushdie; won the Booker Prize in 1981 and the 'Booker of Bookers' twice (1993, 2008).
Option 3 (White Tiger): Written by Aravind Adiga; won the Booker Prize in 2008.
Option 4 (The Guide): Written by R. K. Narayan; won the Sahitya Akademi Award (1960) and was the basis for a famous film — not the Booker Prize.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 28 July 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q272. Who is the author of the internationally acclaimed book The God of Small Things?

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

Answer: (c) Arundhati Roy

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy is the author of 'The God of Small Things' (1997), a novel set in Kerala that explores caste, forbidden love, and family dynamics through the story of fraternal twins. The novel won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997, making Roy the first Indian woman and the first Indian resident to win the prize. It was an international bestseller translated into over 40 languages.
Option 1 (Salman Rushdie): Renowned for 'Midnight's Children' (Booker Prize 1981), 'The Satanic Verses'; not the author of The God of Small Things.
Option 2 (Chetan Bhagat): Popular Indian English author (Five Point Someone, 2 States, etc.); writes commercial fiction, not The God of Small Things.
Option 4 (Jhumpa Lahiri): Pulitzer Prize-winning author (The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies); Indian-American writer, not the author of The God of Small Things.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 26 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q273. Mulk Raj Anand is known for writing about:

  1. (a) Indian rural life and social issues
  2. (b) Science fiction
  3. (c) Mythology
  4. (d) Historical fiction
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Indian rural life and social issues

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Indian rural life and social issues
Mulk Raj Anand (1905–2004) was one of the pioneers of English-language Indian literature. He is best known for his realistic portrayals of Indian rural life, the caste system, poverty, and social injustice. His major works include 'Untouchable' (1935, about a sweeper facing caste discrimination in one day), 'Coolie' (1936, about a factory worker's exploitation), 'Two Leaves and a Bud' (1937, about tea plantation workers), and 'The Village' trilogy. He was a committed socialist and humanist.
Option 2 (Science fiction): Mulk Raj Anand wrote social realism, not science fiction.
Option 3 (Mythology): While Hindu culture appears in his works, his primary focus was social critique and realism, not mythology.
Option 4 (Historical fiction): His works are set in contemporary (early 20th century) India; they are social realist novels, not primarily historical fiction.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 26 July 2025 Shift 2 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q274. Who authored the popular book Wings of Fire, an autobiography?

  1. (a) Dr. Manmohan Singh
  2. (b) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
  3. (c) Jawaharlal Nehru
  4. (d) C.V. Raman
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
'Wings of Fire: An Autobiography' (1999) was authored by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam), co-written with Arun Tiwari. The book covers Kalam's life from his humble origins in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to his pivotal role in India's missile and space programs (PSLV, SLV-3, Agni, Prithvi missiles). Kalam later served as the 11th President of India (2002–2007) and is fondly known as the 'Missile Man of India.'
Option 1 (Dr. Manmohan Singh): Former Prime Minister; his autobiography is 'Changing India'; not 'Wings of Fire.'
Option 3 (Jawaharlal Nehru): Wrote 'Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of World History'; not 'Wings of Fire.'
Option 4 (C.V. Raman): Nobel Prize-winning physicist; known for the Raman Effect; he did not write 'Wings of Fire.'
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 26 July 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q275. Read the below statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark the correct options:
Assertion (A): India: A Million Mutinies Now presents a vivid account of the diverse social and political upheavals across India during the late 20th century.
Reason (R): The book won the Booker Prize for its literary excellence and incisive analysis of postcolonial Indian society.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true, but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – A is true, but R is false
Assertion (A) is TRUE: 'India: A Million Mutinies Now' (1990) by V.S. Naipaul is a nonfiction travel narrative presenting vivid accounts of diverse social, religious, political, and cultural upheavals across India during the late 20th century through personal interviews.
Reason (R) is FALSE: The book did NOT win the Booker Prize. V.S. Naipaul won the Booker Prize for 'In a Free State' (1971) — a completely different work. 'India: A Million Mutinies Now' is also a work of nonfiction and travel writing, which is ineligible for the Booker Prize (which is for fiction). Naipaul won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001 — not for this specific book.
Since A is true but R is false, the correct answer is Option 3 (C).
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 25 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q276. Who wrote the book "Discovery of India"?

  1. (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
  2. (b) Mahatma Gandhi
  3. (c) B.R. Ambedkar
  4. (d) Subhash Chandra Bose
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Jawaharlal Nehru

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Jawaharlal Nehru
'The Discovery of India' was written by Jawaharlal Nehru while imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort during 1942–1946. The book traces India's history, philosophy, and culture from ancient civilizations to the independence movement. It was later adapted into the popular television series 'Bharat Ek Khoj' directed by Shyam Benegal.
Option 2 (Mahatma Gandhi): Gandhi's major works include 'My Experiments with Truth' (autobiography) and 'Hind Swaraj'; not 'Discovery of India.'
Option 3 (B.R. Ambedkar): Known for works like 'Annihilation of Caste' and 'The Buddha and His Dhamma'; not 'Discovery of India.'
Option 4 (Subhash Chandra Bose): His autobiography is 'An Indian Pilgrim'; he did not write 'Discovery of India.'
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 25 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q277. Who is the author of the famous novel "The Guide"?

  1. (a) R.K. Narayan
  2. (b) Salman Rushdie
  3. (c) Ruskin Bond
  4. (d) Amitav Ghosh
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) R.K. Narayan

Correct Answer: Option 1 – R.K. Narayan
'The Guide' (1958) is a celebrated novel by R.K. Narayan, set in the fictional town of Malgudi. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960, making Narayan the first Indian to receive it for an English-language work. The novel was also adapted into a successful Hindi film (1965) starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, directed by Vijay Anand.
Option 2 (Salman Rushdie): Known for 'Midnight's Children' and 'The Satanic Verses'; not the author of 'The Guide.'
Option 3 (Ruskin Bond): Known for 'The Room on the Roof' and numerous short stories; not the author of 'The Guide.'
Option 4 (Amitav Ghosh): Known for the Ibis Trilogy ('Sea of Poppies') and 'The Shadow Lines'; not the author of 'The Guide.'
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 25 July 2025 Shift 3 · International books and authors

Q278. Read the below statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark the correct options:
Assertion (A): India: A Million Mutinies Now presents a vivid account of the diverse social and political upheavals across India during the late 20th century.
Reason (R): The book won the Booker Prize for its literary excellence and incisive analysis of postcolonial Indian society.

  1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. (c) A is true, but R is false.
  4. (d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – A is true, but R is false
Assertion (A) is TRUE: 'India: A Million Mutinies Now' (1990) by V.S. Naipaul does indeed present a vivid account of diverse social, cultural, political, and religious upheavals across India during the late 20th century through personal interviews and travels across India.
Reason (R) is FALSE: The book 'India: A Million Mutinies Now' did NOT win the Booker Prize. V.S. Naipaul's Booker Prize was for his novel 'In a Free State' (1971). Naipaul won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001, but 'India: A Million Mutinies Now' specifically won no Booker Prize. It is a work of nonfiction/travel writing and is ineligible for the Booker (which recognizes fiction).
Since A is true but R is false, the correct answer is Option 3 (C).
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 24 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q279. In which imaginary town are most of R.K. Narayan's famous works set?

  1. (a) Malgudi
  2. (b) Panchgani
  3. (c) Shimla
  4. (d) Darjeeling
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Malgudi

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Malgudi
Malgudi is the fictional South Indian town created by R.K. Narayan as the setting for most of his celebrated works including 'Swami and Friends,' 'The Bachelor of Arts,' 'The Financial Expert,' 'The Guide,' and 'Malgudi Days.' Narayan is considered one of India's greatest English-language authors, and Malgudi has become iconic in Indian literature.
Option 2 ( Panchgani ): A hill station in Maharashtra; not associated with R.K. Narayan's works.
Option 3 (Shimla): A hill station in Himachal Pradesh; associated with Rudyard Kipling but not R.K. Narayan.
Option 4 (Darjeeling): A town in West Bengal; not connected to R.K. Narayan's fiction.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 24 July 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q280. Which author wrote the novel "Train to Pakistan"?

  1. (a) Khushwant Singh
  2. (b) Mulk Raj Anand
  3. (c) Arundhati Roy
  4. (d) Vikram Seth
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Khushwant Singh

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Khushwant Singh
'Train to Pakistan' (1956) is a landmark novel by Khushwant Singh set during the Partition of India in 1947. It depicts the communal violence and human tragedy in a fictional village called Mano Majra on the India-Pakistan border, through which trains carrying refugees and dead bodies passed. Khushwant Singh was a renowned journalist, historian, and author.
Option 2 (Mulk Raj Anand): Known for 'Untouchable' and 'Coolie'; did not write Train to Pakistan.
Option 3 (Arundhati Roy): Known for 'The God of Small Things' (1997 Booker Prize winner); did not write Train to Pakistan.
Option 4 (Vikram Seth): Known for 'A Suitable Boy' and 'The Golden Gate'; did not write Train to Pakistan.
SSC Selection Post 2025 (Phase XIII) – 24 July 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q281. Which Indian author wrote the novel Midnight's Children, which won the Booker Prize?

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

Answer: (c) Salman Rushdie

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Salman Rushdie
'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie was published in 1981 and won the Booker Prize that year. It also won the 'Booker of Bookers' in 1993 and 2008 (best Booker Prize novel ever). The novel tells the story of children born at midnight on August 15, 1947 (Indian independence), exploring India's post-independence history through magical realism.
Option 1 (Vikram Seth): Known for 'A Suitable Boy' (1993) and 'The Golden Gate' (1986); did not write Midnight's Children.
Option 2 (Ruskin Bond): A celebrated children's and short story writer known for 'The Room on the Roof'; did not write Midnight's Children.
Option 4 (Kiran Desai): Won the Booker Prize in 2006 for 'The Inheritance of Loss'; did not write Midnight's Children.
RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 24 June 2025 Shift 2 · International books and authors

Q282. Yōko Ogawa's novel "Mina's Matchbox" was translated into English and released in August 2024. What is the original language of the novel?

  1. (a) Korean
  2. (b) Chinese
  3. (c) Japanese
  4. (d) Vietnamese
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Japanese

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 20 June 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q283. What is the title of Sarojini Naidu’s first collection of poems, published in 1905?

  1. (a) Songs of the Dawn
  2. (b) The Golden Threshold
  3. (c) The Captive Lady
  4. (d) Urvasie
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) The Golden Threshold

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 18 June 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q284. Which of the following novels, published in 1961, was written by Attia Hosain and portrays the impact of the Partition on a feudal family?

  1. (a) Sunlight on the Broken Column
  2. (b) Clear Light of Day
  3. (c) Midnight’s Children
  4. (d) Ice Candy Man
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Sunlight on the Broken Column

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 18 June 2025 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q285. How many poems are included in Behramji Merwanji Malabari’s 'The Indian Muse in English Garb'?

  1. (a) 32
  2. (b) 25
  3. (c) 40
  4. (d) 20
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) 32

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 11 June 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q286. What is the title of the poetry collection by Michael Madhusudan Dutt, published in 1849, that narrates the story of Prithviraj Chauhan?

  1. (a) The Warrior’s Tale
  2. (b) The Captive Lady
  3. (c) The Noble King
  4. (d) Echoes of Rajputana
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) The Captive Lady

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 10 June 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q287. To which regional language's literature did Girish Karnad contribute most through his works?

  1. (a) Telugu
  2. (b) Malayalam
  3. (c) Tamil
  4. (d) Kannada
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Kannada

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 6 June 2025 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q288. Which Indian English poet’s first poetry collection titled 'The Striders', published in 1966, received a Poetry Book recommendation?

  1. (a) Nissim Ezekiel
  2. (b) Dom Moraes
  3. (c) R Parthasarathy
  4. (d) AK Ramanujan
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) AK Ramanujan

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 6 June 2025 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q289. Which of the following novels was written by Qurratulain Hyder in 1959 and is known for its deep insights on the Partition of India?

  1. (a) Train to Pakistan
  2. (b) Urvasie
  3. (c) Aag Ka Darya
  4. (d) Pinjar
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Aag Ka Darya

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2024-25 – 5 June 2025 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q290. Which writer authored 'Baluta', recognised as the pioneering Dalit autobiographical work in the Marathi language?

  1. (a) Namdeo Dhasal
  2. (b) Omprakash Valmiki
  3. (c) Sharankumar Limbale
  4. (d) Daya Pawar
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Daya Pawar

RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 18 December 2024 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q291. The author of the famous novel 'Midnight's Children' is:

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

Answer: (a) Salman Rushdie

Answer: Option 1 — Salman Rushdie
Midnight's Children (1981) is Salman Rushdie's novel about Saleem Sinai, born at the midnight of India's independence.
It won the Booker Prize, 1981.
Revision note — Salman Rushdie and Indian Booker winners
• Midnight's Children uses magical realism; it was named the Booker of Bookers (1993) and Best of the Booker (2008).
• Other Rushdie books: Shame, The Satanic Verses, The Moor's Last Sigh, Shalimar the Clown, Joseph Anton (memoir).
• Booker winners of Indian origin: Arundhati Roy — The God of Small Things (1997); Kiran Desai — The Inheritance of Loss (2006); Aravind Adiga — The White Tiger (2008).
• Geetanjali Shree — Tomb of Sand — won the International Booker Prize, 2022.
Do not mix these up
• Khushwant Singh — Train to Pakistan; Ruskin Bond — The Room on the Roof, The Blue Umbrella; Shashi Tharoor — The Great Indian Novel, An Era of Darkness.
Also asked from this topic: the Rushdie book that won the 1981 Booker Prize (Midnight's Children); the author of Shalimar the Clown (Salman Rushdie); the author of Joseph Anton: A Memoir (Salman Rushdie).
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 18 December 2024 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q292. In which year was 'Indian Culture: A Compendium of Indian History, Culture and Heritage' published?

  1. (a) 2020
  2. (b) 2023
  3. (c) 2022
  4. (d) 2021
Answer & solution

Answer: (d) 2021

Answer: Option 4 — 2021
'Indian Culture: A Compendium of Indian History, Culture and Heritage' was published in 2021.
It is the English translation of historian Dr S. Srikanta Sastri's Kannada work 'Bharatiya Samskriti' (1954).
Revision note — The book and its author
• Translated into English by Prof. S. Naganath, the author's son.
• Published by Notion Press in 2021.
• S. Srikanta Sastri (1904–1974) was a historian and Indologist from Mysore, Karnataka.
• The original Kannada book 'Bharatiya Samskriti' came out in 1954.
• It surveys Indian history, religion, art, literature and heritage from ancient times.
Year-of-publication questions often turn on translation — the English edition's date, not the original's, is asked.
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 18 December 2024 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q293. In which year was 'Reflections on Mughal Art & Culture' published?

  1. (a) 2022
  2. (b) 2021
  3. (c) 2019
  4. (d) 2020
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) 2021

Answer: Option 2 — 2021
Reflections on Mughal Art and Culture, an illustrated collection of essays edited by art historian Roda Ahluwalia, was published by Niyogi Books in 2021.
Revision note — Mughal art and painting
• Mughal painting began under Humayun, who brought Persian masters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad.
• Akbar set up a large royal atelier; the Hamzanama was its first big project; Daswant and Basawan were leading painters.
• Painting reached its peak under Jahangir — Ustad Mansur (birds and animals) and Abu'l Hasan were his masters.
• Shah Jahan's reign is the high point of Mughal architecture — Taj Mahal, Red Fort (Delhi), Jama Masjid.
• Aurangzeb withdrew patronage, and painters moved to Rajput and Pahari courts.
Also asked from this topic: the Mughal emperor who claimed he could identify the painter of any picture (Jahangir).
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 17 December 2024 Shift 1 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q294. Who is the author of "Postcolonial Elements in Amitav Ghosh's 'The Shadow Lines,'" published in 2018?

  1. (a) Amitav Ghosh
  2. (b) Arundhati Roy
  3. (c) Nivedhaa Nivi
  4. (d) Salman Rushdie
Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Nivedhaa Nivi

Answer: Option 3 — Nivedhaa Nivi
The work is a 2018 critical study of Amitav Ghosh's novel The Shadow Lines, credited to Nivedhaa Nivi.
Amitav Ghosh wrote the novel itself; a study titled "Postcolonial Elements in Amitav Ghosh's …" is written about him, not by him.
Revision note — Amitav Ghosh and The Shadow Lines
• The Shadow Lines (1988) — set in Calcutta, Dhaka and London; themes of memory, borders, nationalism and Partition.
• It won the Sahitya Akademi Award (1989).
• Amitav Ghosh received the Jnanpith Award (2018) — the first English-language writer to get it.
• Ibis Trilogy: Sea of Poppies (2008, Booker shortlist), River of Smoke, Flood of Fire.
• Other works: The Calcutta Chromosome, The Hungry Tide (Sundarbans), The Glass Palace, Gun Island, The Great Derangement (climate change).
• Arundhati Roy — The God of Small Things (Booker 1997); Salman Rushdie — Midnight's Children (Booker 1981).
Do not mix these up
• Author of a novel vs author of a study on it — a title naming "Amitav Ghosh's" book is criticism by another writer.
Also asked from this topic: the author of The Shadow Lines (Amitav Ghosh); the author of The Calcutta Chromosome (Amitav Ghosh); the first book of the Ibis Trilogy (Sea of Poppies).
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 17 December 2024 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q295. In which language was the classic Indian novel 'Chandrakanta' originally written?

  1. (a) Hindi
  2. (b) Tamil
  3. (c) Bengali
  4. (d) Urdu
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Hindi

Answer: Option 1 — Hindi
Chandrakanta (1888) was written in Hindi by Devaki Nandan Khatri.
Its fantasy adventure of tilism (magical mazes) and aiyaars (disguised spies) was so popular that many people are said to have learnt Hindi just to read it.
Revision note — Landmark Hindi novels
• Chandrakanta and its sequel Chandrakanta Santati — Devaki Nandan Khatri; later a TV serial (1994).
• Pariksha Guru (1882) by Lala Srinivas Das — often called the first Hindi novel.
• Godan (1936) — Munshi Premchand; the peasant Hori and his dream of a cow.
• Maila Aanchal (1954) — Phanishwar Nath Renu; the landmark anchalik (regional) novel.
• Tamas (1974) — Bhisham Sahni; communal violence of Partition.
• Ret Samadhi (Tomb of Sand) — Geetanjali Shree; first Hindi novel to win the International Booker Prize (2022), translated by Daisy Rockwell.
Do not mix these up
• Chandrakanta vs Pariksha Guru — Chandrakanta is the famous early popular Hindi novel; Pariksha Guru is usually named the first Hindi novel.
Also asked from this topic: author of Godan (Premchand); of Maila Aanchal (Phanishwar Nath Renu); of Tamas (Bhisham Sahni); first Hindi International Booker winner (Geetanjali Shree).
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 17 December 2024 Shift 3 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q296. In which year was 'Heirloom Treasures: The Cultural Tapestry of India: A Compilation of Selected Articles from India Beckons: Volume 1,' by Arunima Hoskote, published?

  1. (a) 2020
  2. (b) 2018
  3. (c) 2021
  4. (d) 2019
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) 2020

Answer: Option 1 — 2020
Heirloom Treasures: The Cultural Tapestry of India (Volume 1) by Arunima Hoskote was published in 2020 by Notion Press.
Revision note — Heirloom Treasures: The Cultural Tapestry of India
• Author: Arunima Hoskote, a writer–editor and a Cambridge economics graduate.
• The book is a compilation of selected articles from India Beckons, the digital travel magazine she founded.
• Theme: India's heritage, culture and travel — the "heirloom treasures" of the title.
• Publisher: Notion Press; year: 2020; this is Volume 1.
• For books-and-authors questions, learn the trio title → author → year together.
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 16 December 2024 Shift 2 · Modern Indian books and authors

Q297. Who is the author of 'Fiction as History: The Novel and the City in Modern North India,' published in 2019?

  1. (a) Vasudha Dalmia
  2. (b) Jhumpa Lahiri
  3. (c) Arundhati Roy
  4. (d) Salman Rushdie
Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Vasudha Dalmia

Answer: Option 1 — Vasudha Dalmia
Fiction as History: The Novel and the City in Modern North India (2019) is by literary historian Vasudha Dalmia; it reads early Hindi novels as a history of the north Indian city and its society.
Revision note — Vasudha Dalmia and her work
• Vasudha Dalmia is a scholar of Hindi literature and modern Indian culture; she taught at the University of California, Berkeley.
• The Nationalization of Hindu Traditions — her study of Bharatendu Harishchandra and 19th-century Banaras.
• Poetics, Plays and Performances — on modern Hindi theatre (including Habib Tanvir).
• Fiction as History treats the Hindi novel as a record of how the north Indian city and its society changed.
"History" in a title often signals an academic, non-fiction book — look for the scholar among the novelists.
RRB JE CBT-1 2024-25 – 16 December 2024 Shift 3 · Autobiographies and biographies

Q298. Who is the author of 'Segar: Autobiography with Paintings,' published in 2013?

  1. (a) Jhumpa Lahiri
  2. (b) D Raja Segar
  3. (c) Githa Hariharan
  4. (d) Salman Rushdie
Answer & solution

Answer: (b) D Raja Segar

Answer: Option 2 — D Raja Segar
Segar: Autobiography with Paintings is the coffee-table autobiography of the Sri Lankan artist and sculptor D. Raja Segar.
It was released in July 2013 in Colombo, alongside an exhibition of his paintings.
Revision note — D. Raja Segar and his autobiography
• Born 1951 in Colombo, Sri Lanka; he left accountancy to become an artist.
• His style is called "refractive" — cubism in which light seems to bend through geometric shapes.
• Favourite subjects: Buddha, Ganesha and everyday South Asian life.
• He first became known through greeting cards showing Sri Lankan daily life.
• The book traces his rise from poverty to an internationally exhibited artist (Australia, England, India, Sri Lanka).
Also asked from this topic: the author of the autobiography Rasidi Ticket (Amrita Pritam); A Shot at History (Abhinav Bindra); The Race of My Life (Milkha Singh).
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