17 September 2025 · Shift 3

Mumbai's architecture CSMT and the High Court are Victorian Gothic works of the colonial period — Statement 1 correct. The Oval Maidan separates the Gothic buildings on one side from the Art Deco line on Marine Drive — Statement 3 correct. Art Deco arrived in the 1930s, i.e. the 20th century, not 19th-century planning — Statement 2 wrong. Hence 1 and 3 only — option (b).

Hornbill symbolism The hornbill is admired by the Naga tribes for its size, striking beak and majestic flight. It stands for boldness and grandeur, and its feathers adorn warriors’ headgear. The Hornbill Festival is held every December in Kisama, Nagaland. Hence option (c).

Gupta officials Talavataka was the village-level accountant/record keeper — correctly matched. Dhruvadhikaranika looked after land revenue, while Bhandagaradhikrita headed the TREASURY/store. Utkhetayita was concerned with collecting dues, not land survey. Hence option (b).

Sangeet Ratnakara Sharangadeva wrote the Sangeet Ratnakara at the Yadava court of Devagiri in the 13th century. It is called the Saptadhyayi (seven chapters) and is respected by both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. The Natya Shastra is by Bharata Muni, much earlier. Hence option (a).

AAFI founded 1946 The AAFI was set up in 1946 to unify athletics across the country. It was later renamed the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Its first president was Maj. A.A. Cheema. Hence option (a).

Sher Shah Suri Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540). He then founded the Sur Empire, often called the Second Afghan Empire. His reforms included the rupiya, the Grand Trunk Road and a revenue survey. Hence option (c).

Ring-Fence policy Warren Hastings followed the Ring-Fence policy to protect Company territory. Neighbouring states such as Awadh were made buffers against the Marathas and Afghans. Their armies were subsidised by the Company, creating a defensive ring. Hence option (b).

Boxing at Sydney 2000 India’s only medal at Sydney 2000 was Karnam Malleswari’s weightlifting bronze. No Indian boxer won a medal there. India’s first Olympic boxing medal came in 2008 (Vijender Singh); Mary Kom won bronze in 2012. Hence option (b).

Mitra Shakti 2024 Mitra Shakti is the joint army exercise of India and Sri Lanka. The 2024 edition focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a UN mandate. It was held at Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka. Hence option (b).

'The White Tiger' Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize in 2008 for The White Tiger. It follows Balram Halwai’s rise from a village to entrepreneurship in Bangalore. It was his debut novel. Hence option (b).

IOA formed 1927 The Indian Olympic Association was formally set up in 1927. Sir Dorabji Tata became its first President and Dr. A.G. Noehren its first Secretary. It governs India’s participation in the Olympic and Asian Games. Hence option (b).

Kho Kho Championship Maharashtra won both the men’s and women’s titles at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship — Statement 1 correct. The championship was not held at the two venues named together in Statement 2 — that detail is wrong. So only the first statement holds. Hence Only 1 — option (a).

Education — 42nd Amendment The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 shifted education from the State List to the Concurrent List. It also moved forests, weights and measures, and wildlife protection. This allows both the Centre and the states to legislate on education. Hence option (b).

Transpiration Dry air and wind carry away water vapour quickly, so transpiration speeds up — Statement 1 correct. The transpiration pull works through cohesion and tension in the xylem, lifting sap — Statement 2 correct. Wilting happens only when water loss exceeds absorption, not necessarily — Statement 3 wrong. Hence Only 1 and 2 — option (b).

GoI Act 1935 The Act of 1935 provided for an All-India Federation and gave provinces autonomy with their own ministries. It also divided powers into Federal, Provincial and Concurrent Lists. Fundamental Rights and adult suffrage came only with the Constitution. Hence option (a).

Tippani — wooden sticks Tippani is a folk dance of Saurashtra, Gujarat, performed mainly by women. It grew out of the work of beating lime floors with long WOODEN sticks called tippani. The rhythmic pounding became a dance form. Hence option (c).

World Competitiveness Index The IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland publishes the World Competitiveness Yearbook. It ranks economies on economic performance, government and business efficiency and infrastructure. The first edition appeared in 1989. Hence option (a).

Elasticity of demand Elasticity = $\frac{\%\mathrm{change}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{demand}}{\%\mathrm{change}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{price}}$ = $\frac{20}{10}$ = 2. A value greater than 1 means demand is ELASTIC. Unitary elasticity would need the two percentages to be equal. Hence option (b).

Mahalanobis Model The Second Plan (1956-61) was drafted on P.C. Mahalanobis’s two-sector model. It stressed heavy and basic industries in the public sector. The First Plan had followed the Harrod-Domar model with a focus on agriculture. Hence option (a).

Mission Mangrove Mitra Mission Mangrove Mitra links mangrove restoration with wage employment under MGNREGS. Local communities are engaged as mangrove mitras for plantation and protection. It builds on the MISHTI initiative for mangrove habitats. Hence option (b).

1991 BoP crisis By mid-1991 India’s foreign exchange reserves had fallen to about two weeks of imports. The Gulf War, high oil prices and falling remittances worsened the position. India had to pledge gold and seek IMF assistance. Hence option (b).

IMF bailout (A–R) India did borrow from the IMF and World Bank in 1991 — A is true. Reserves had indeed fallen to roughly two weeks of imports — R is true. That very depletion forced the government to seek the loan, so R explains A. Hence option (a).

Chhau — syncretic Chhau of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal mixes tribal ritual, martial movement and folk dance. Its themes come from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas — the classical Hindu strand. Purulia and Seraikella styles even use elaborate masks; UNESCO listed it in 2010. Hence option (a).

Chronology of cases The Berubari Union case was decided in 1960. Minerva Mills came in 1980, laying down the basic structure limits on amending power. Indra Sawhney (the Mandal case) came in 1992. Order 1-3-2 — option (a).

Space weather effects Solar flares and CMEs hurl charged particles and X-rays towards Earth. These disturb the ionosphere and cause radio blackouts, GPS errors and satellite damage. Ocean currents and volcanoes are driven by earthly processes, not space weather. Hence option (b).