21 September 2025 · Shift 2

ISRO full form INCOSPAR was set up in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy. It was reorganised as the Indian Space Research Organisation in August 1969. Its headquarters are at Bengaluru. Hence option (c).

Chabahar Port Pakistan does not allow Indian goods overland to Afghanistan. Chabahar in Iran gives India a sea-and-road route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is India’s answer to that transit barrier. Hence option (d).

Teer — Meghalaya Teer is the traditional archery-based contest of Meghalaya, held daily at Shillong. Archers shoot at a bundle of straw and the count of arrows striking it decides the result. It is regulated by the state government. Hence option (a).

Intercontinental Cup 2018 The 2018 Intercontinental Cup was played at the Mumbai Football Arena. India beat Kenya 2-0 in the final, with Sunil Chhetri scoring twice. It was his 100th international appearance year. Hence option (a).

Virtual court hearings The new criminal laws allow trials, appeals and depositions to be conducted electronically. Video-conferencing for evidence and virtual hearings has been formally recognised. Zero FIR and e-FIR have been introduced, not the removal of the FIR system. Hence option (c).

HUL Foods ED Rajneet Kohli took over as Executive Director, Foods at Hindustan Unilever in 2025. He had earlier headed Britannia Industries as CEO. Nitin Paranjpe is a former HUL CEO. Hence option (c).

Kangra Fort Kangra Fort in Himachal Pradesh is among the oldest and largest forts in the Himalayas. Its gateways, arches, domes and carved stonework give it a majestic look. Bamboo, glass and steel belong to other building traditions. Hence option (a).

Salhesh Festival Salhesh is a folk hero worshipped in the Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal. At his festival a Bhagat, aided by Manarias, narrates and enacts the Salhesh legends through the night. The performance blends worship, song and drama. Hence option (a).

Allahabad Pillar Inscription The Allahabad Prashasti was composed by Harisena, court poet of Samudragupta. It records his conquests and is the main source for Gupta political history. The Aihole inscription concerns the Chalukyas and the Junagadh one the Shakas. Hence option (a).

Swapnil Kusale Swapnil Kusale won bronze in the 50 m Rifle 3 Positions at Paris 2024. He is the first Indian ever to win an Olympic medal in that event. Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh also won shooting medals at those Games. Hence option (a).

Slave dynasty Qutub-ud-din Aibak founded the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty in 1206 after Ghori’s death — Statement 1 correct. Balban belonged to the SLAVE dynasty, not the Khalji, and was not the first Sultan of Delhi — Statement 2 wrong. The Khalji dynasty began with Jalaluddin Khalji in 1290. Hence Only 1 — option (b).

Factory Act 1881 The first Indian Factory Act came in 1881 under Lord Ripon. It restricted child labour — no child below 7, and a nine-hour limit for children. Later Acts extended protection to women’s working hours as well. Hence option (d).

'India on Our Minds' The book is a collection of essays on India’s economy, society and policy challenges — Statement 1 correct. It is non-fiction, so the claim of a fictional independence-movement story is wrong. Statement 2 is therefore incorrect. Hence Only statement 1 — option (b).

Retreating monsoon (A–R) During October-November the monsoon trough weakens and the northern plains turn into a high-pressure area. Descending air under high pressure gives clear skies and dry weather — A is true. That pressure reversal is exactly what causes the change, so R explains A. Hence option (a).

Money Bill Article 110 defines a Money Bill as one dealing with the imposition, abolition or regulation of any tax. Such a bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, on the President’s recommendation. The Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations on it. Hence option (d).

Moment of inertia Moment of inertia I = Σmr² has magnitude but no direction, so it is a scalar. Its value depends on the distance of the mass from the chosen axis. Change the axis and I changes, as the parallel-axis theorem shows. Hence option (b).

UIP vaccines The UIP, launched in 1985, now covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. Nine are covered nationally and three sub-nationally. They include tuberculosis, polio, measles, rubella and hepatitis B. Hence option (a).

Gender Gap Report 2025 The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Gender Gap Report each year. In the 2025 edition India’s position slipped compared with the previous year. Weak scores on economic participation and health pulled the rank down. Hence option (d).

Revenue budget The Union Budget has two parts — the revenue budget and the capital budget. The revenue account, covering revenue receipts and revenue expenditure, is the revenue budget. The capital account deals with assets and liabilities. Hence option (b).

Jhumar dance Jhumar is a harvest-season group dance of Jharkhand performed to the mandar and nagara — Statement 1 correct. Mardani Jhumar is the vigorous MALE form of the dance; the women’s form is Janani Jhumar — Statement 2 wrong. The name itself means "manly". Hence Only 1 — option (b).

Kanaklata Barua Kanaklata Barua was shot on 20 September 1942 at Gohpur in Assam. She was leading a procession to hoist the national flag on the police station. She was only 17 and is remembered as Birbala. Hence option (d).

Baji Raut Baji Raut was a boatman’s son at Nilakanthapur Ghat on the Brahmani river in Dhenkanal. In October 1938 he refused to ferry British police across and was shot dead. He was only 12, making him India’s youngest martyr. Hence option (d).

Yamuna rejuvenation The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga and among its most polluted stretches. It was brought under the restoration mission in 2025 for focused rejuvenation. Delhi’s stretch carries the heaviest pollution load. Hence option (c).

IPR 1956 licensing The 1956 Resolution gave the State the "commanding heights" of the economy. Licensing let the government decide what would be produced, how much and where. Private expansion therefore needed prior approval. Hence option (a).

Inter-State Council Article 263 empowers the President to set up an Inter-State Council — Statement 1 correct. It inquires into and advises upon disputes and matters of common interest — Statement 2 correct. The Prime Minister chairs it, with Chief Ministers and six Union Ministers as members — Statement 3 correct. Hence 1, 2 and 3 — option (d).