22 September 2025 · Shift 3

PSLV PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, developed by ISRO. It mainly places satellites in polar sun-synchronous orbits. It carried Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan and is called ISRO’s workhorse. Hence option (a).

BIMSTEC energy lead BIMSTEC divides its work into sectors, each led by a member country. India leads the energy sector, along with security, transport and connectivity. The BIMSTEC Energy Centre is located in Bengaluru. Hence option (a).

UMANG UMANG brings hundreds of central and state services onto one mobile app. A citizen can pay bills, check PF, book gas and much more from a single place. DigiLocker only stores documents and MyGov is a citizen-engagement platform. Hence option (b).

Grand Slam In tennis the four Grand Slam events are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Winning all four in a calendar year is a Grand Slam. Golf too has majors, but the term is most commonly linked with tennis. Hence option (c).

Indian Women’s League 2017 The first Indian Women’s League was played in 2016-17. Its final was held in New Delhi, where Eastern Sporting Union beat Rising Student’s Club. The league is organised by the AIFF. Hence option (c).

Phool Dei Phool Dei marks the beginning of spring in Uttarakhand, especially the Kumaon region. Young girls place flowers and rice on doorsteps and are blessed with sweets. It falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra. Hence option (c).

BNSS reform The BNSS allows statements, evidence and even parts of the trial to be recorded on video. Electronic recording cuts repeated summons and speeds up proceedings. The BNSS also fixes time limits for charge-sheets and judgments rather than relaxing them. Hence option (b).

First woman Law Secretary Anju Rathi Rana took charge as Union Law Secretary in 2025. She is the first woman to head the Department of Legal Affairs. She had earlier served as Additional Secretary in the same department. Hence option (c).

Tamil Nadu rainfall The Coromandel coast lies in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats for the Arabian Sea branch. The Bay of Bengal branch travels almost parallel to this coast instead of striking it, so little rain falls. Tamil Nadu therefore gets most of its rain from the retreating (north-east) monsoon. Hence option (a).

Achaemenid influence The polished sandstone pillars and animal capitals of Ashoka show Persian influence. Their monumental scale, mirror-like polish and realistic animal forms echo Achaemenid court art. The Sarnath lion capital is the best-known example. Hence option (b).

Paramabhagavata The Guptas were devotees of Vishnu and took the title Paramabhagavata. It appears on their coins and inscriptions, along with the Garuda emblem. Parameshvara was used more often by Shaiva rulers. Hence option (c).

Chronology Sher Shah Suri rebuilt the Grand Trunk Road during his reign, 1540-1545. Humayun regained the throne in 1555 and died in January 1556. Akbar was crowned soon after, in February 1556. So the order is 2-1-3 — option (b).

Regulating Act 1773 The Regulating Act of 1773 made the Governor of Bengal the Governor-General. He was assisted by a Council of FOUR members, decisions being taken by majority. Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General under this Act. Hence option (b).

Athens 2004 The 2004 Summer Olympics were held at Athens, Greece. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won silver in the men’s double trap. It was India’s first Olympic medal in shooting. Hence option (c).

Friend of My Youth Amit Chaudhuri writes literary fiction rooted in memory and everyday life. Friend of My Youth returns to Bombay and weaves together reflections on family, loss and identity. It is neither history nor biography nor a travel book. Hence option (d).

Governor reserves a Bill Article 200 gives the Governor four options on a Bill sent to him. One of them is to reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President. The President then acts under Article 201. Hence option (c).

Beta-plus decay In β⁺ decay a proton inside the nucleus turns into a neutron, emitting a positron and a neutrino. So the atomic number falls by 1 while the total number of nucleons stays the same. β⁻ decay does the reverse and alpha decay changes both numbers. Hence option (a).

Energy Transition Index 2025 The 2025 ETI notes that global energy demand keeps climbing. Rapid electrification and rising cooling needs in a warming world are the main drivers. Investment and readiness, by contrast, are reported as lagging. Hence option (a).

Ghoomar (A–R) Ghoomar began among the Bhil community and was later taken up by Rajput women — A is correct. It is not on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list — R is incorrect. India’s entries include Kutiyattam, Ramlila, Yoga, Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja. Hence option (b).

Capital receipt A capital receipt either creates a liability or reduces an asset. A loan from the RBI creates a liability for the government, so it is a capital receipt. Taxes, dividends and service charges are all revenue receipts. Hence option (c).

V.O. Chidambaram Pillai V.O. Chidambaram Pillai founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906. It ran ships between Tuticorin and Colombo against a British shipping monopoly. The title Kappalottiya Thamizhan means "the Tamil who sailed ships". Hence option (b).

Planning and feedback Plan documents are circulated in draft form for discussion. Criticism and suggestions from experts, states and the public are then used to revise them. That revision stage is where responsiveness shows. Hence option (c).

Verghese Kurien Verghese Kurien led Operation Flood from 1970, the world’s largest dairy development programme. It made India the largest milk producer and gave rise to the Amul cooperative model. He is remembered as the Father of the White Revolution. Hence option (b).

Urban Heat Island Concrete and asphalt absorb heat by day and release it slowly at night. Vehicles, air conditioners and industry add more heat, while trees and water bodies that would cool the air are few. So city centres stay several degrees warmer than the countryside around them. Hence option (c).

GST provisions Article 279A does set up the GST Council as a constitutional body — Statement 3 correct. Article 246A gives BOTH Parliament and state legislatures the power to make GST laws, so it is not exclusive — Statement 1 wrong. States therefore do legislate on GST within their territory — Statement 2 wrong. Hence 3 only — option (c).