24 September 2025 · Shift 2

Electronic record under BSA The BSA, 2023 replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. An electronic record is admissible only when it comes with the prescribed certificate about the device and process that produced it. This carries forward the old Section 65B requirement. Hence option (c).

Konark chariot The Konark temple is shaped as the chariot of Surya. It has 24 carved wheels and is drawn by SEVEN horses. The seven horses stand for the seven days of the week. Hence option (b).

Mathura school The Mathura school grew from indigenous Indian traditions. Its early Buddha images derive from the older Yaksha figures — broad shoulders, a robust body and a shaven head. It worked in the red spotted sandstone of Sikri. Hence option (a).

Pola festival Pola is a festival of the farming communities of central India and Maharashtra. Bullocks are bathed, decorated and worshipped in thanks for their work in the fields. It falls on the new-moon day of the month of Shravana. Hence option (d).

Ashokan script Most Ashokan edicts are in the Brahmi script, written in Prakrit. Kharosthi was used in the north-west, and Greek and Aramaic in Afghanistan. James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi in 1837. Hence option (b).

Pustapala The Pustapala was the record-keeper in Gupta administration. He verified land titles and entered transfers in the official registers. The other three officials named handled policing, the army and the merchant guild. Hence option (b).

Badminton court areas A badminton court is read as three zones — forecourt, midcourt and rearcourt. The net kill is a forecourt stroke, the drive a flat midcourt stroke and the clear a rearcourt stroke that sends the shuttle high and deep. All three descriptions match the standard zones. Hence 1, 2 and 3 — option (a).

Prithviraj Chauhan Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori at the First Battle of Tarain in 1191. Ghori returned the next year and won the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, ending Prithviraj’s rule. That defeat opened the way for Turkish rule in north India. Hence option (c).

Council of India 1858 The Act of 1858 ended Company rule and created the office of the Secretary of State for India. A 15-member Council of India was set up to assist and advise him. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet. Hence option (d).

38th National Games Judo At the 38th National Games, Sidharth Rawat (Uttarakhand) took the men’s 60 kg gold and Asmita Dey (Uttar Pradesh) the women’s 48 kg gold — Statement 1 correct. Rohit Majgul (Gujarat) won the men’s −66 kg and Shraddha Chopade (Maharashtra) the women’s 52 kg — Statement 2 correct. The Games were hosted by Uttarakhand. Hence Both — option (a).

Squash serve (A–R) The serve rule described in A is correct for squash. A server changes boxes only after WINNING a rally, not after every serve — and a player who loses the rally loses the serve altogether. So R states the rule wrongly. Hence option (d).

The Great Indian Novel The Great Indian Novel (1989) was written by Shashi Tharoor. It retells the Mahabharata as a satire on twentieth-century Indian politics. He has also written An Era of Darkness and The Paradoxical Prime Minister. Hence option (c).

A Fine Balance A Fine Balance (1995) was written by Rohinton Mistry. It follows four characters whose lives are upturned during the Emergency of 1975-77. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Hence option (c).

Khelo India 2025 TT Kavya Bhatt of Maharashtra won the girls’ singles table tennis gold at KIYG 2025. She beat M. Hansini in the final. The Games were held in Bihar that year. Hence option (c).

Rajya Sabha powers Article 249 lets the Rajya Sabha pass a resolution by a two-thirds majority allowing Parliament to legislate on a State List subject; it stays valid for a year and may be renewed — Statement 1 correct. President’s Rule needs the approval of BOTH Houses, not the Rajya Sabha alone — Statement 2 wrong. (The Rajya Sabha alone can keep it going only when the Lok Sabha stands dissolved.) Hence Only 1 — option (b).

Ray diagram The image lies where the reflected rays meet. Two rays are enough to fix that point of intersection. A third ray is drawn only as a check. Hence option (c).

Karma festival Karma is celebrated on Bhadra Ekadashi, when a branch of the Karam tree is planted and worshipped — Statement 1 correct. The drum used in Karma is the MANDAR, not the madal — Statement 2 wrong. It is popular among the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Hence Only 1 — option (b).

Capital receipts A receipt is capital in nature if it changes the government’s balance sheet. Borrowings create a liability; disinvestment or recovery of loans reduces an asset. Revenue receipts, by contrast, do neither. Hence option (b).

Money multiplier Cash kept by the public never reaches the banks, so it leaks out of the credit-creation chain — Statement 1 correct. A higher CRR locks up more deposits and cuts lending capacity — Statement 3 correct. More reserves parked with the RBI leave LESS for lending, so they REDUCE the multiplier — Statement 2 wrong. Hence 1 and 3 — option (c).

EPI publishers The EPI is produced jointly by Yale University and Columbia University. It is released with the World Economic Forum, every two years. Countries are scored on environmental health and ecosystem vitality. Hence option (d).

Thakkar Bapa Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar, called Thakkar Bapa, worked among the tribal people of India. He founded the Bhil Seva Mandal in 1922. He also served as secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh. Hence option (a).

Santhal Rebellion Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu led the Santhal Hul of 1855 against moneylenders, zamindars and the Company. They gathered thousands of Santhals and fought an armed struggle, not a merely spiritual or diplomatic one. The revolt led to the creation of the Santhal Parganas. Hence option (c).

Lead Bank Scheme The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced by the RBI in 1969. It followed the nationalisation of 14 banks the same year, on the Gadgil Committee’s recommendation. Each district was assigned to one bank to lead its credit planning. Hence option (b).

Socialist pattern The Second Plan (1956-61) was based on the Mahalanobis model. It stressed heavy industry under state control and took the socialistic pattern of society as its goal. The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 was framed to serve it. Hence option (a).

Industries still licensed The 1991 reforms scrapped licensing for most industries. A short list was kept out on grounds of health, safety and strategic concern — alcohol, cigarettes, explosives, hazardous chemicals, drugs and electronic aerospace equipment. These still need government approval. Hence option (c).