14 September 2025 · Shift 1

SG & Presidential election The Solicitor General is NOT a constitutional post — he is appointed by the Government of India (through the ACC), not by the President — Statement 1 is wrong. For the Presidential election, a candidate must deposit ₹15,000 as security with the nomination — Statement 2 is correct. (Only the Attorney General, under Article 76, is appointed by the President.) Hence Only statement 2 — option (a).

Mathura art The Mathura School (1st–3rd century CE, under the Kushanas) made images for Buddhist, Jain and Hindu patrons — Indian and foreign alike — Statement I is correct. Mathura sculpture is FULL of nature motifs — lotus, animals, yakshis with trees (shalabhanjika). So the claim that nature-inspired subjects were absent is wrong — Statement II is incorrect. Hence Only statement I — option (c).

Hola Mohalla Hola Mohalla was started by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib. It is held the day AFTER Holi (not simultaneously), so option (d) fails. Its hallmark is displays of Sikh martial arts (gatka), mock battles by Nihangs, poetry and community langars. Hence option (b).

Margi Sangita Ancient texts divide music into two streams: Mārgi and Deśi. Mārgi Saṅgita is the sacred, rule-bound music believed to descend from the Vedic (Sāmaveda) tradition, performed for spiritual merit. Deśi sangita, by contrast, is the regional/folk stream meant for entertainment. Hence Vedic traditions — option (a).

Freestyle wrestling — points Technical points reward legal scoring ACTIONS. A takedown — bringing the opponent to the mat under control — earns 2 points (4–5 for high-amplitude throws). Illegal holds, fleeing the mat and grabbing clothing are FOULS that give points to the opponent instead. Hence option (d).

Vijender Singh 2008 At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Vijender Singh boxed in the 75 kg middleweight category. In the quarter-final he beat Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9-4. That win guaranteed at least a bronze — India’s first-ever Olympic boxing medal. Hence option (a).

SAARC 2024 initiative In 2024 the RBI notified the revised Currency Swap Framework for SAARC countries for 2024–27. Under it, member nations can draw dollar/euro support and a separate INR swap window to meet short-term liquidity needs. It strengthens regional financial stability and promotes trade in rupees. Hence option (d).

NSNIS Patiala The National Institute of Sports was set up on 7 May 1961 in the old Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala. In January 1973 it was renamed the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in honour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It remains Asia’s premier sports-coaching institute under SAI. Hence option (b).

The Vine of Desire "The Vine of Desire" (2002) is the sequel to "Sister of My Heart". It follows two cousins, Anju and Sudha, in America — exploring love, migration, identity and cultural tension in an immigrant Indian family — Statement 1 is correct. It is neither an independence-era history nor science fiction — Statements 2 and 3 are wrong. Hence Only statement 1 — option (b).

Indian Desert — streams In the Thar Desert rainfall is scanty and evaporation extreme — no stream can flow all year, so Statement 1 is wrong. Desert streams appear briefly during rains and then vanish into the sandy terrain (ephemeral drainage). The Luni is the only significant river, and even it ends in the Rann without reaching the sea. Hence Only 2 — option (a).

Demography (A–R) Birth and death rates are computed from what households report to the Civil Registration System and surveys — A is true. Registration is legally mandatory, BUT it is not consistently accurate everywhere — under-reporting persists, especially in rural areas. So the claim of consistent accuracy makes R false. Hence A true, R false — option (d).

Padma awardees — fields Gokul Chandra Das of West Bengal received the Padma Shri for his mastery of the Dhak — folk percussion, i.e. Folk Music — pair 2 is correct. Farooq Ahmad Mir was honoured for Kani shawl weaving (Art), not Literature. The other two pairings are also incorrect as stated. Hence 2 only — option (b).

RLV-LEX3 RLV-LEX3 was the third and final landing experiment of ISRO's Reusable Launch Vehicle 'Pushpak'. Released from a helicopter, the winged vehicle performed an autonomous high-speed landing in challenging cross-wind conditions at Chitradurga. It validated advanced guidance and landing technologies for future reusable launchers. Hence option (c).

Pleiotropy 'Pleio' means many and 'tropy' means turning/affecting. Pleiotropy is the phenomenon where ONE gene influences SEVERAL apparently unrelated traits. Classic example: the sickle-cell gene affects blood, pain episodes and malaria resistance together (the reverse — many genes, one trait — is polygenic inheritance). Hence option (b).

Money Bills — both levels Money Bills originate only in the Lok Sabha / Legislative Assembly. The Rajya Sabha (Art. 109) and a Legislative Council (Art. 198) can only RECOMMEND changes — within 14 days — and the lower House may accept or reject those recommendations. Neither upper House can amend or reject a Money Bill; approval is not required (option b overstates it). Hence option (c).

Inertia Inertia is the tendency of a body to resist any change in its state of rest or motion (Newton’s first law). A heavy box resists starting (inertia of rest) and, once moving, resists stopping (inertia of motion). Greater mass means greater inertia — exactly what the box shows. Hence option (c).

BNS 2023 The BNS, 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The IPC defines crimes and their punishments — that is SUBSTANTIVE criminal law. (Procedure is covered by the BNSS, replacing CrPC, and evidence by the BSA, replacing the Evidence Act.) Hence option (c).

Green Hydrogen Mission (A–R) The National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) aims to cut fossil-fuel dependence using hydrogen made from renewable power — A is true. The Mission is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), not the Environment Ministry. So R is false. Hence option (c).

Koli dance The Koli community are the traditional fisherfolk of the Maharashtra coast (Mumbai region). Their dance imitates the rowing of boats and the casting of nets. Men and women dance in pairs to sea-themed songs. Hence option (b).

ETI 2025 — publisher The Energy Transition Index is an annual report ranking countries on energy security, sustainability and readiness. It is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Geneva. The IEA publishes the World Energy Outlook — a different report. Hence option (d).

Consumer goods industry Consumer goods are products used DIRECTLY by consumers. Toothpaste goes straight to the end user — a classic FMCG consumer good. Aluminium, steel and machine tools are basic/capital goods used to make other products. Hence option (d).

Article 246A — GST Article 246A was inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016) — the GST amendment. It gives Parliament and every State Legislature CONCURRENT power to make laws on Goods and Services Tax. Parliament alone legislates on inter-State GST (IGST). Hence option (a).

Ramsar — Sarus Cranes Sarsai Nawar Jheel in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh, is a Ramsar Site (declared 2019). It is famous for supporting India’s largest concentration of the Sarus Crane — the world’s tallest flying bird and UP’s state bird. The wetland showcases harmonious human-crane coexistence. Hence option (a).

Oxygen in atmosphere Dry air is roughly 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Argon (~0.93%) and carbon dioxide (~0.04%) make up most of the rest. So oxygen is nearly 21%. Hence option (a).

Article 139A Under Article 139A, the Supreme Court can withdraw and transfer cases involving the same questions of law between High Courts or to itself — Statement 1 is correct. Article 139A was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 — Statement 2 is correct. This power ensures uniform interpretation of law across the country. Hence Both 1 and 2 — option (d).