SSC CGL 23 September 2025 · Shift 3 · General Awareness — questions with answers · ShikshaSphere
Chapter 142 of 192
23 September 2025 · Shift 3
General Awareness
25 questions ~25 min readFree
25 questions
A
26
Which distinctive architectural element is prominently associated with the Sun Temple at Modhera?
A.Mandapa
B.Stepped tank
C.Shikhara
D.Gopuram
Solution
Modhera Sun Temple
The Modhera Sun Temple in Gujarat was built by Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty.
Its most striking feature is the Surya Kund — a large stepped tank in front of the temple.
The tank has more than a hundred small shrines set into its steps.
Hence option (b).
27
In which Indian state is the folk festival 'Phuldei', celebrated with flowers and traditional customs, mainly observed?
A.Jammu and Kashmir
B.Uttarakhand
C.Assam
D.Himachal Pradesh
Solution
Phuldei
Phuldei marks the arrival of spring in Uttarakhand.
Children place flowers and rice on the doorsteps of homes and are blessed in return.
It falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra.
Hence option (b).
28
Which one of the following sculptures does not originate from the Mathura region's art style of the Kushana period?
A.Bala Buddha of Sultanganj
B.Standing Buddha from Govindnagar
C.Katra Keshav Dev fragment
D.Govind Nagar Yaksha
Solution
Mathura school
Govindnagar and Katra Keshav Dev are both sites in the Mathura region.
Sculptures from them belong to the Mathura school, carved in its typical red spotted sandstone.
The Sultanganj Buddha is a colossal copper image from Bihar, of the Gupta period, not Mathura.
Hence option (a).
29
Which weapons were mainly used by Mesolithic communities for hunting purposes?
A.Barbed spears
B.Axes
C.Daggers
D.Slings
Solution
Mesolithic weapons
The Mesolithic is marked by microliths — tiny stone blades fixed into wood or bone.
These were set into shafts to make barbed spears, harpoons and arrows for hunting.
Heavy axes belong to the Neolithic and metal daggers to still later ages.
Hence option (a).
30
Within the urban administrative system of the Gupta dynasty, what correctly describes the role of the Adhisthanadhikarana?
A.It was a Board of Advisors representing guilds, artisans and scribes
B.It was a temple committee managing offerings and rituals
C.It was a royal council supervising land grants
D.It was a military assembly responsible for town defence
Solution
Adhisthanadhikarana
The Adhisthanadhikarana was the municipal board of a Gupta town.
Damodarpur copper plates show it made up of the nagarasreshthi (chief banker), sarthavaha (chief merchant), prathama-kulika (chief artisan) and prathama-kayastha (chief scribe).
So it represented the guilds, artisans and scribes of the town.
Hence option (a).
31
Consider the following statements about Indian Athletics:
1. P.T. Usha narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 1980 Moscow Olympics by just one-hundredth of a second at the age of 20.
2. The National Institute of Sports is situated in New Delhi.
3. Milkha Singh was the first Indian athlete to win an individual gold at the Commonwealth Games.
A.Only 1 and 2 are correct
B.Only 1 and 3 are correct
C.Only 2 and 3 are correct
D.Only 3 is correct
Solution
Indian athletics facts
Milkha Singh won the 440 yards gold at the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games — Statement 3 correct.
P.T. Usha missed her bronze by one-hundredth of a second at the 1984 LOS ANGELES Games, not Moscow 1980 — Statement 1 wrong.
The National Institute of Sports is at Patiala, not New Delhi — Statement 2 wrong.
Hence Only 3 — option (d).
32
Which traveller of the 14th century noted that Indian rulers used bamboo forests and rough terrains as natural defences?
A.Marco Polo
B.Megasthenes
C.Al-Biruni
D.Ibn Battuta
Solution
Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveller, reached India in 1333 during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign.
His Rihla describes bamboo thickets and difficult terrain serving as natural fortification.
Megasthenes belongs to the Mauryan age and Al-Biruni to the 11th century.
Hence option (d).
33
The Pitt's India Act of 1784 established a six-member body to supervise the political affairs of the East India Company. What was this body called?
A.East India Council
B.Ministry of Indian Affairs
C.Board of Control
D.Indian Administrative Commission
Solution
Pitt's India Act
Pitt's India Act set up a Board of Control of six members.
It supervised the political, military and revenue affairs of the Company.
This created the system of dual control, which lasted till 1858.
Hence option (c).
34
Under current Grand Slam rules for men's singles, when is a tiebreak played in the fifth set?
A.Only after 12-12 games in the fifth set
B.No tiebreak is allowed in the fifth set
C.At 6-6 in the fifth set
D.After 10-10 in the fifth set
Solution
Grand Slam tiebreak
From 2022 all four Grand Slams adopted a common rule.
A 10-point tiebreak is played at 6-6 in the deciding set.
Earlier the four tournaments each followed different rules.
Hence option (c).
35
Match the following Water Polo roles with their correct descriptions:
A) Centre forward B) Centre back C) Driver D) Dead-time
1) Defensive player assigned to mark the main attacker of the opposing team
2) Player who makes fast movements into scoring positions without the ball
3) Primary attacker stationed near the opponent's goal, typically between the 2 m and 4 m lines
4) Interval between the referee's foul whistle and the resumption of play
A.A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
B.A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
C.A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
D.A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
Solution
Water polo roles
The centre forward is the main attacker who sits close to the opposing goal — A-3.
The centre back marks that attacker, so B-1.
A driver darts into scoring positions without the ball — C-2, and dead-time is the pause after a foul whistle — D-4.
Hence A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 — option (a).
36
Which of the following personalities wrote the book 'The Elephant Paradigm'?
A.Amitabh Kant
B.Gurcharan Das
C.Arundhati Roy
D.Raghuram Rajan
Solution
The Elephant Paradigm
The Elephant Paradigm: India Wrestles with Change was written by Gurcharan Das.
He is also known for India Unbound and The Difficulty of Being Good.
He was formerly the CEO of Procter & Gamble India.
Hence option (b).
37
What is the main focus of the book The Tatas by Girish Kuber and Vikrant Pande?
A.The Tata family's impact on India's industrial and social development
B.The Tata family's rise during early modern India
C.A fictional story exploring ethical dilemmas in the Tata business empire
D.The influence of the Tata family on India's industrial policies
Solution
The Tatas
The book traces the Tata family across generations, from Jamsetji onwards.
It shows how their enterprises shaped both India’s industry and its social institutions.
It is a work of history, not fiction.
Hence option (a).
38
The 2024-25 Katakkar Trophy All-India Inter-Club Winter Water Polo League was hosted at which venue?
A.SPM Swimming Complex, New Delhi
B.Hyderabad Sports Arena, Hyderabad
C.Marine Drive Aquatic Centre, Mumbai
D.Tilak Tank, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune
Solution
Katakkar Trophy venue
The league was played at the Tilak Tank of the Deccan Gymkhana in Pune.
Pune has long been a centre of Indian water polo.
The Katakkar Trophy is an inter-club winter competition.
Hence option (d).
39
Which statement correctly describes the constitutional provisions and historical use of a Financial Emergency under Article 360?
A.A Financial Emergency was declared during the 1991 economic crisis
B.Article 360 allows individual states to withhold salaries of their employees
C.A Financial Emergency has never been declared; it empowers the Union government to reduce salaries, including those of judges
D.During a Financial Emergency, the President alone can remove the Union Cabinet
Solution
Article 360
Article 360 has never been invoked in India, not even in 1991.
During such an emergency the President may direct a reduction in the salaries of all government servants, including judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
The power lies with the Union, not with individual states.
Hence option (c).
40
What is the typical range of sound frequencies that the human ear can perceive?
A.0-10,000 Hz
B.2,000-20,000 Hz
C.20-20,000 Hz
D.100-1,000 Hz
Solution
Audible range
The audible range for a healthy human ear is about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Sound below 20 Hz is infrasonic and above 20,000 Hz is ultrasonic.
The upper limit falls with age.
Hence option (c).
41
Consider the following statements and select the correct relationship between them:Assertion (A): Under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, electronic records are legally admissible as primary evidence in court.
Reason (R): According to Section 62, electronic records are treated only as secondary evidence.
A.Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
B.A is true, but R is false
C.Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
D.A is false, but R is true
Solution
Electronic records (A–R)
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam gives electronic records the status of PRIMARY evidence — A is true.
The Reason claims the opposite, that they are only secondary evidence — R is false.
The two statements contradict each other, so R cannot explain A.
Hence option (b).
42
Consider the following statements regarding the Dumhal folk dance of Kashmir:
1. The Dumhal is performed exclusively by the Wattal community, who first plant a ceremonial banner before starting the dance.
2. This dance is primarily associated with celebrating apple harvests in the valley.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A.Only 2 is correct
B.Only 1 is correct
C.Both 1 and 2 are correct
D.Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Solution
Dumhal
Dumhal is performed by the men of the Wattal tribe, who plant a banner in the ground and dance around it — Statement 1 correct.
It is tied to particular ceremonial occasions of the community, not to the apple harvest — Statement 2 wrong.
The dancers wear long colourful robes and tall conical caps.
Hence Only 1 — option (b).
43
Why are government grants given for creating assets still classified as Revenue Expenditure?
A.Because they are routed through government loans
B.Because they do not directly result in the creation of central government assets
C.Because they are used exclusively by private sector organizations
D.Because they are excluded from any budgetary allocation
Solution
Grants as revenue expenditure
Capital expenditure is spending that creates an asset FOR the central government.
A grant handed to a state or a body creates the asset in that body’s books, not the Centre’s.
So even a grant-in-aid for capital assets is booked as revenue expenditure.
Hence option (b).
44
Consider the following statements and choose the correct relationship:Assertion (A): Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) requirements increase the lending capacity of commercial banks.
Reason (R): Higher CRR and SLR requirements reduce the funds available with banks for lending.
A.Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
B.Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C.A is false, but R is true
D.A is true, but R is false
Solution
CRR and SLR (A–R)
CRR and SLR lock up a part of a bank’s deposits, so they REDUCE lending capacity — A is false.
Raising these ratios leaves banks with less money to lend — R is true.
That is exactly why the RBI raises them to tighten credit.
Hence option (c).
45
The UN Sustainable Development Report 2024 primarily monitors global progress in achieving which set of international objectives?
A.Global Climate Action Targets
B.World Health Organization Guidelines
C.International Labour Standards
D.Sustainable Development Goals
Solution
UN SDR 2024
The report tracks how far countries have come on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
These were adopted in 2015 with a target year of 2030.
It ranks countries on an SDG Index score.
Hence option (d).
46
The Chapekar Brothers — Damodar, Balkrishna and Vasudeo — are historically remembered for assassinating a British official in retaliation for harsh measures during the plague epidemic in which Indian city?
A.Kolkata
B.Pune
C.Ahmedabad
D.Lucknow
Solution
Chapekar Brothers
The plague of 1897 struck Pune, and the measures of Plague Commissioner W.C. Rand were widely resented.
The Chapekar brothers shot Rand and Lieutenant Ayerst on 22 June 1897.
Damodar Chapekar was hanged for the act.
Hence option (b).
47
Consider the following statements and choose the correct relationship:Assertion (A): After the death of Jadonang, Rani Gaidinliu took over leadership of the Heraka movement.
Reason (R): She intended to transform the movement into a widespread literacy initiative among Naga tribes.
A.Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
B.Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
C.A is false, but R is true
D.A is true, but R is false
Solution
Rani Gaidinliu (A–R)
Rani Gaidinliu did take over the Heraka movement after Jadonang was hanged in 1931 — A is true.
She turned it into a political and religious revolt against British rule, not a literacy drive — R is false.
She was arrested in 1932 and Nehru gave her the title "Rani".
Hence option (d).
48
The concept of the rolling plan in India was introduced during the tenure of which Prime Minister?
A.P.V. Narasimha Rao
B.Morarji Desai
C.Atal Bihari Vajpayee
D.Lal Bahadur Shastri
Solution
Rolling plan
The Janata Party government under Morarji Desai brought in the rolling plan in 1978.
It replaced the Fifth Five-Year Plan, which was ended a year early.
The idea came from the economist Gunnar Myrdal.
Hence option (b).
49
The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 primarily emphasized which approach?
B.State control over the commanding heights of the economy
C.Import-led industrial expansion
D.Focusing exclusively on consumer goods production
Solution
IPR 1956
The 1956 Resolution divided industries into three schedules.
Seventeen key industries were reserved wholly for the State.
The public sector was to hold the commanding heights of the economy.
Hence option (b).
50
The primary short-term goal of the stabilization measures during the 1991 economic reforms in India was to:
A.Control inflation and restore the balance of payments
B.Expand healthcare and education expenditures
C.Boost rural employment programs
D.Completely privatize state-owned enterprises
Solution
Stabilisation 1991
The 1991 reforms had two parts — stabilisation and structural reform.
Stabilisation was the short-term task: to curb inflation and correct the balance-of-payments crisis.
Structural measures such as liberalisation and privatisation were the long-term half.
Hence option (a).
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