21 September 2025 · Shift 1

Chabahar Port Chabahar lies on Iran’s south-eastern coast and is developed with Indian help. It gives India a trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. The aim is commercial connectivity, not a military presence. Hence option (b).

PMGSY PMGSY was launched in 2000 to give all-weather road links to unconnected habitations. Bharatmala deals with national highways and economic corridors. Gati Shakti is a multi-modal infrastructure planning platform. Hence option (d).

BSA and IT Act Electronic records first got legal recognition through the Information Technology Act, 2000. The BSA, 2023 carries that framework forward, treating electronic records as primary evidence. The IT Act supplies the definitions of digital signature and electronic record it relies on. Hence option (c).

UCC — Uttarakhand Uttarakhand passed its Uniform Civil Code Bill in February 2024. It became the first state to enforce a UCC, covering marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships. Goa has long followed a common civil code inherited from Portuguese rule. Hence option (d).

Permaculture Permaculture comes from "permanent agriculture". It designs farms and settlements that imitate natural ecosystems and sustain themselves with little external input. Growing organisms in a controlled medium is in-vitro or ex-situ culture. Hence option (b).

Chambal ravines The Chambal rises in Madhya Pradesh and flows through Rajasthan into Uttar Pradesh, joining the Yamuna. Its badlands of deep gullies spread over these three states. Haryana and Punjab lie outside the Chambal basin. Hence option (d).

Bonalu Bonalu is offered to Goddess Mahakali in the Telangana twin cities during Ashada. Tradition traces it to the plague outbreak of 1813, when people prayed for deliverance. Women carry bonam — pots of cooked rice — to the temple. Hence option (a).

Chittorgarh Fort The Vijay Stambha, built by Rana Kumbha, and the Jain Kirti Stambha both stand inside the fort — Statement 1 correct. The complex has about 19 to 22 principal temples, not 35 — Statement 2 wrong. Its seven gateways, including the Ram Pol, belong to the medieval period, not the 7th century — Statement 3 wrong. Hence 1 only — option (a).

Long jump approach The approach run builds the horizontal speed needed at take-off. Elite long jumpers usually cover it in about 18 to 22 strides, over roughly 40-45 m. Beginners use shorter run-ups of 12 to 16 strides. Hence option (c).

Chanhudaro Chanhudaro in Sindh is the only Harappan site with no citadel. Excavations revealed bead-makers’ workshops along with shell and bangle making. Lothal was the port and Dholavira a water-management site. Hence option (c).

Tripartite struggle Kanauj was fought over by the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas — the tripartite struggle — so Statement I is correct. The Pratiharas indeed held western and central India, but the PALAS ruled Bengal and Bihar, not the Deccan. The Deccan was the Rashtrakuta homeland, so Statement II is wrong. Hence Only Statement I — option (a).

Abolition of Sati Lord William Bentinck passed Regulation XVII of 1829 banning Sati. Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s campaign was central to the reform. Bentinck also acted against thuggee and female infanticide. Hence option (c).

Beijing 2008 Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold in shooting; Vijender Singh took bronze in boxing and Sushil Kumar in wrestling — Statement 1 correct. Saina Nehwal made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 in women’s singles badminton, reaching the quarter-finals — Statement 2 correct. It was India’s best Olympic showing at the time with three medals. Hence Both — option (c).

'The Winner's Mindset' Shane Watson’s book studies the mental side of top-level sport. It deals with resilience under pressure and the ability to adapt strategy. It is not a technical coaching manual nor a plain autobiography. Hence option (b).

38th National Games The 38th National Games were held in Uttarakhand in early 2025 — Statement 1 correct. Events were spread over Dehradun, Haldwani, Rishikesh, Haridwar and other centres — Statement 2 correct. The mascot was Mauli, based on the monal bird. Hence Both — option (d).

Article 249 Article 249 lets the Rajya Sabha pass a resolution by a two-thirds majority declaring a STATE List subject to be of national interest. Parliament may then legislate on it for one year, extendable. Union and Concurrent subjects already lie within Parliament’s power. Hence option (d).

Spark torch igniters (A–R) Reusable boosters and orbital stages must restart their engines several times — A is true. A spark torch igniter provides a controlled flame that lights the main engine reliably in vacuum — R is true. That reliability of repeated ignition is precisely why such igniters matter, so R explains A. Hence option (a).

Inter-State Council The Inter-State Council was set up in 1990 under Article 263 with the Prime Minister as Chairman — Statement 1 correct. It only inquires into and advises upon disputes and common-interest matters — Statement 2 correct. Judicial settlement of inter-state disputes lies with the Supreme Court under Article 131. Hence Both — option (c).

Concave mirror A concave mirror is a converging mirror. Parallel sunlight striking it meets at the principal focus, producing intense heat. A convex mirror diverges light and a plane mirror only reflects it. Hence option (c).

Lavani — dholki Lavani is performed to the beat of the DHOLKI, a barrel-shaped drum. Its powerful rhythm sets the pace for the dance and singing. The mridangam belongs to Carnatic music and the tabla to Hindustani classical. Hence option (c).

Multiplier (A–R) The investment multiplier k = $\frac{1}{\mathrm{MPS}}$; a rise in investment raises income by a multiple — A is true. Since part of every extra rupee is spent rather than saved, MPS < 1 and the multiplier exceeds one — R is true. That very fact is why the multiplied expansion happens, so R explains A. Hence option (a).

EoDB weightage (A–R) The EoDB index gave EQUAL weight to each of its ten indicators — no single one carried the maximum — so A is false. "Starting a Business" was indeed one of those ten metrics — R is true. The others included dealing with construction permits, getting credit and enforcing contracts. Hence option (d).

Green Revolution imbalance HYV seeds need assured water, fertiliser and credit to give high yields. They therefore spread mainly in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, where canal irrigation existed. Rain-fed eastern and central regions were left behind, widening the gap. Hence option (c).

Ramsar Sites India has the largest number of Ramsar Sites in South Asia — Statement 1 correct. Keibul Lamjao in Manipur’s Loktak Lake is the only floating national park and lies within a Ramsar Site — Statement 2 correct. Many sites are inland — Sambhar in Rajasthan, Renuka in Himachal, Loktak in Manipur — so Statement 3 is wrong. Hence 1 and 2 only — option (a).

Minority sale In minority disinvestment the government sells less than 50% of its stake. It keeps management control while raising resources. In strategic disinvestment control passes to the buyer along with a large stake. Hence option (a).