21 September 2025 · Shift 3

Bahmani Kingdom The Bahmani Kingdom was founded in 1347 CE by Alauddin Bahman Shah in the Deccan. It arose after the Delhi Sultanate lost control of the region — centuries after the Chola and Chera period. Naval expeditions, the devadasi tradition and the Tamil revival all belong to the Chola-Chera world. Hence option (b).

Land of the Thunder Dragon Bhutan calls itself Druk Yul, meaning the Land of the Thunder Dragon. The dragon appears on its national flag and in the name of its rulers, the Druk Gyalpo. Its capital is Thimphu. Hence option (d).

IGNOAPS IGNOAPS gives a monthly pension to BPL citizens aged 60 and above who have no regular means of support. It is the old-age component of the wider NSAP umbrella. APY and PMVVY are contributory schemes — the subscriber pays in first. Hence option (b).

Pietra dura Shah Jahan’s reign is the high point of Mughal architecture in marble. Pietra dura — semi-precious stones inlaid in marble — reached its peak in the Taj Mahal. The double dome, an inner and an outer shell, also became standard under him. Hence option (a).

BNSS 2023 The BNSS, 2023 replaced the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973. It allows statements of witnesses, search and seizure and even trials to be recorded and conducted electronically. Audio-video recording of evidence speeds up proceedings and reduces repeated summons. Hence option (c).

Republic Day 2025 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Chief Guest at the 2025 Republic Day parade. It marked the fourth time an Indonesian President held that honour. Emmanuel Macron was the Chief Guest in 2024. Hence option (d).

Talcher Talcher lies in the Angul district of Odisha. It sits on the Talcher coalfield, one of India’s largest coal reserves. NTPC runs both the Talcher Thermal and Talcher Super Thermal stations there. Hence option (a).

Unconsolidated formations Unconsolidated formations are the loose alluvial sands and gravels of river plains. Their high porosity and permeability make them the most productive aquifers. The Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains rest on such formations. Hence option (c).

Chhabina In Dhar the ceremonial procession of Lord Dharnath is called the Chhabina. The word refers to a grand display taken out through the town. Jhanki is a tableau and rath the chariot itself. Hence option (c).

Rik A Rik is a verse of praise — a sacred hymn addressed to a deity. The Rigveda is the collection of such riks, arranged in ten mandalas. Melody belongs to the Samaveda (saman) and sacrificial formulae to the Yajurveda. Hence option (b).

Personal foul A personal foul is illegal physical contact with an opponent — holding, pushing, blocking or charging. Five personal fouls (six in the NBA) put a player out of the game. Arguing with officials draws a technical foul instead. Hence option (d).

GoI Act 1919 The Act of 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford reforms) created a two-house central legislature. The upper house was the Council of State and the lower house the Central Legislative Assembly. The Chamber of Princes was a separate advisory body for the princely states. Hence option (d).

Vijay Kumar 2012 Vijay Kumar won the SILVER medal at London 2012; the gold went to Leuris Pupo of Cuba. He reached the final only after coming through a shoot-off in the sixth round of qualification. So option (d) is wrong about the medal and (a) and (c) are factually incorrect. Hence option (b).

One Hundred Years of Solitude The novel is the classic of magical realism, tracing seven generations of the Buendia family in Macondo — Statement 1 correct. Its narrative is deliberately cyclical, not strictly chronological, and it is a work of fiction rather than political history — Statement 2 wrong. Marquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. Hence Only 1 — option (a).

AIFF calendar 2024-25 The Durand Cup, first held in 1888, is Asia’s oldest football tournament; the 2024 edition ran from 27 July to 31 August — Statement 1 is correct. The I-League 3 and the Junior Girls National Championship were scheduled in different months of the calendar — Statement 2 is wrong. Hence Only 1 — option (c).

Financial Emergency A Financial Emergency is proclaimed under Article 360. During it the President may direct a reduction in the salaries of all government servants, including judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. This power has never been used in India. Hence option (b).

Generative design (A–R) ISRO does use generative design to cut weight while keeping strength in launch-vehicle parts — A is true. Such software is widely used in the automobile, medical and construction industries as well — R is false. It is a general engineering tool, not an exclusive one. Hence option (a).

State borrowing Article 293 governs the borrowing powers of states. A state that still owes money to the Centre needs the Centre’s consent before raising a fresh loan — Statement 1 correct. States may borrow only within India, so any external borrowing must be routed through the Union — Statement 2 correct. Hence Both — option (d).

Nichrome High resistivity makes the wire produce a lot of heat for the current passing through it. A high melting point (about 1400 °C) lets it glow red-hot without melting. Nichrome also resists oxidation at high temperature. Hence option (a).

Thoda Thoda is an archery-based martial art of the Kullu and Sirmaur areas of Himachal Pradesh. It is performed by Rajput communities during Baisakhi, and the blunt wooden arrows are aimed below the knee. The two rival groups are called Pashi and Saathi. Hence option (c).

GDP and well-being (A–R) GDP measures only the market value of output, not how it is shared or what it costs the environment — A is true. The very reasons listed — depreciation, environmental damage and inequality — are why GDP falls short — R is true and explains A. This is why HDI and Green GDP were developed. Hence option (d).

AQI severe (A–R) On the Indian AQI scale, 401-500 is the Severe band — A is true. The band is defined precisely by its health effect: it affects even healthy people and seriously harms those with existing disease — R is true and explains A. The bands run Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very Poor and Severe. Hence option (b).

Fertilizer subsidies Cheap fertiliser was central to the Green Revolution and lifted yields sharply. But large farmers in irrigated areas used most of it, so the gains were unevenly shared. The subsidy also strained the budget and, over time, the soil. Hence option (d).

Green Hydrogen Mission The mission (2023) does aim to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export — Statement 1 correct. Green hydrogen is made by electrolysing water using renewable power — Statement 3 correct. The target is at least 5 MMT per year by 2030, not 10 MMT — Statement 2 wrong. Hence 1 and 3 — option (a).

Navratnas The Navratna status was introduced in 1997 for well-performing public sector undertakings. It gives their boards greater financial and operational autonomy, including investment powers without prior government approval. They remain government-owned — the tiers are Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna. Hence option (d).