SSC CGL 26 September 2025 · Shift 2 · General Awareness — questions with answers · ShikshaSphere
Chapter 174 of 192
26 September 2025 · Shift 2
General Awareness
25 questions ~25 min readFree
25 questions
A
26
Which specialised system helped the Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram detect surface hazards and ensure a safe touchdown on the Moon?
A.Optical Terrain Mapping Radar
B.Autonomous Laser Guidance Module
C.Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera and Processing Algorithm
D.Lunar Descent Imaging and AI Navigation Suite
Solution
LHDAC
The Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera scanned the landing site in real time.
It picked out rocks, craters and uneven ground so the safest spot could be chosen.
It was developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, and worked with the laser altimeter and velocimeter.
Hence option (c).
27
The phenomenon of coral bleaching observed in the Indian Ocean is primarily caused by which of the following factors?
A.Reduced salinity due to heavy monsoonal rainfall
B.Enhanced sediment deposition from coastal erosion
C.Anthropogenically induced sea surface temperature increases
D.Elevated nutrient discharge from agricultural runoff
Solution
Coral bleaching
Corals live with algae called zooxanthellae, which give them both colour and food.
When the sea warms beyond their tolerance, the corals expel these algae and turn white.
Human-driven warming of the sea surface is the chief cause; the other factors add stress but do not drive mass bleaching.
Hence option (c).
28
The Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household. Which of the following poses the most significant challenge to the successful realisation of this objective?
A.Shortage of trained technical manpower for infrastructure development
B.Delays in inter-departmental coordination and project approvals
C.Inadequate awareness among beneficiaries regarding water conservation
D.Ensuring the long-term sustainability of water sources and maintaining water quality
Solution
Jal Jeevan Mission
Laying a tap is only the beginning; the tap must keep giving safe water for years.
Falling groundwater tables, drying sources and contamination by arsenic or fluoride threaten exactly that.
The other difficulties are real but can be solved administratively.
Hence option (d).
29
In the context of traditional Indian temple architecture, what does the term "mandapa" refer to?
A.Ornamental entrance pavilion
B.Pillared hall for worshippers
C.Enclosure wall surrounding the sanctum
D.Sacred reservoir adjacent to the temple
Solution
Mandapa
The mandapa is the pillared hall in front of the sanctum where devotees gather.
The sanctum itself is the garbhagriha and the tower above it the shikhara.
The gateway is the gopuram and the tank a pushkarini.
Hence option (b).
30
Which is the largest and most renowned monastery in Sikkim, celebrated for its colourful murals and lively mask dance festivals?
A.Lingdum Monastery
B.Phodong Monastery
C.Rumtek Monastery
D.Ralang Monastery
Solution
Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek, near Gangtok, is the largest monastery in Sikkim.
It is the seat of the Karma Kagyu order, rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa in the 1960s.
Its Cham mask dances draw visitors from across the region.
Hence option (c).
31
In 2021, which acclaimed author, together with translator Anna Moschovakis, was honoured with the International Booker Prize?
A.David Diop
B.Yoko Ogawa
C.Hernan Diaz
D.Leïla Slimani
Solution
International Booker 2021
The 2021 International Booker Prize went to the French-Senegalese novelist David Diop.
The award was for At Night All Blood Is Black, originally Frère d’âme.
The prize money is shared equally between author and translator.
Hence option (a).
32
At the Commonwealth Games 2022, which Indian athlete made history by securing the nation's first-ever gold medal in the triple jump?
A.Muhammed Anas Yahiya
B.Neeraj Chopra
C.Eldhose Paul
D.Tajinder Pal Singh Toor
Solution
CWG athletics gold
Eldhose Paul won the triple jump at Birmingham 2022 with a leap of 17.03 m.
He became the first Indian ever to take a Commonwealth gold in that event.
Abdulla Aboobacker took silver in the same final.
Hence option (c).
33
Under the Subsidiary Alliance system introduced by the British, what was a key obligation imposed on allied Indian rulers?
A.They could form independent military alliances without British approval
B.They were exempt from paying any tribute or revenue to the British
C.They retained complete control over foreign affairs
D.They had to keep a British Resident in their court
Solution
Subsidiary Alliance
Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance required a ruler to accept a British Resident at his court.
He also had to maintain British troops at his own cost and could not make war or treaties without permission.
So options (a), (b) and (c) state the exact opposite of the terms.
Hence option (d).
34
According to the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, under what circumstances can secondary evidence (such as photocopies or scanned documents) be used in court?
A.It is admissible only if the original document is lost, destroyed or otherwise unavailable
B.It is automatically considered more reliable than the original
C.It can be used only if certified by a government officer
D.It is completely inadmissible in civil and criminal cases
Solution
Secondary evidence
The law prefers primary evidence — the original document itself.
Secondary evidence is allowed only when the original cannot be produced, for instance if it is lost, destroyed or held by the opposite party.
It is never treated as more reliable than the original.
Hence option (a).
35
Which Indian Air Force Chief, commissioned into the fighter stream in December 1984, went on to lead the IAF as its top officer?
A.Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
B.Arup Raha
C.AP Singh
D.B S Dhanoa
Solution
IAF Chief
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh was commissioned into the fighter stream in December 1984.
He served as Vice Chief before taking over as Chief of the Air Staff in 2024.
He is an experimental test pilot with wide experience on fighter aircraft.
Hence option (c).
36
Which of the following statements about the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization is INCORRECT?
A.Wheat and barley were the principal crops cultivated
B.There is clear evidence for the practice of Sati
C.Women adorned themselves with ornaments made of gold, silver, copper and bronze
D.They worshipped a male deity often identified as Pashupati
Solution
Harappan civilisation
Harappan farming did centre on wheat and barley, and ornaments of gold, silver, copper and bronze have been found.
A seal showing a seated male figure surrounded by animals is widely read as a proto-Shiva or Pashupati.
No evidence of Sati has ever been found at Harappan sites — that statement is the wrong one.
Hence option (b).
37
With respect to the distribution of minerals in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Himalayan region contains minerals like copper, zinc, cobalt and lead.
2. Rajasthan is rich in building materials such as granite, marble and gypsum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.2 only
B.1 only
C.Neither 1 nor 2
D.Both 1 and 2
Solution
Mineral distribution
Copper, zinc, cobalt and lead do occur in the Himalayan belt — Statement 1 correct.
Rajasthan is India’s leading source of marble, granite and gypsum — Statement 2 correct.
Rajasthan also supplies most of the country’s zinc from Zawar and Rampura Agucha.
Both correct — option (d).
38
Regarding the theory of demographic transition, consider the following:
1. In the early phases of the demographic cycle, both birth and death rates are high, leading to very slow population growth.
2. By the third phase, fertility declines significantly while mortality continues to decrease, causing moderate population growth.
3. The theory primarily focuses on fertility and mortality, ignoring the effects of migration.
4. Cultural norms, social practices and economic conditions can influence population patterns, which may cause deviations from the theory's predictions.
Which of the statements above is/are correct?
A.1, 3 and 4 only
B.2 and 4 only
C.1, 2 and 3 only
D.2, 3 and 4 only
Solution
Demographic transition
Statement 1 says growth in the first stage is very SLOW — but with both rates high the population stays nearly STATIONARY, and the stage is described as one of high fluctuation, so it is not correct as worded.
Statement 2 correctly describes the third stage, and Statement 3 rightly notes that the model leaves migration out.
Statement 4 is also correct — culture and economy make real countries deviate from the model.
Hence 2, 3 and 4 — option (d).
39
Which Hindustani classical music gharana has its style heavily influenced by the dhrupad tradition?
A.Agra Gharana
B.Patiala Gharana
C.Kirana Gharana
D.Bhendibazaar Gharana
Solution
Agra Gharana
The Agra gharana grew out of the dhrupad-dhamar tradition.
Its khayal keeps the weight, the forceful voice production and the nom-tom alaap of dhrupad.
Kirana is known for slow, note-by-note elaboration and Patiala for ornamented, lighter singing.
Hence option (a).
40
Regarding basketball rules and skills, consider the following statements:
1. A team in possession of the ball must attempt a shot within 24 seconds, failing which it results in a shot clock violation.
2. A player is disqualified only after committing five personal fouls.
3. The reverse spin dribble is a technique primarily used to improve ball control during offensive play, not just for interception.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.1 and 2 only
B.Only 1 is correct
C.Only 3 is correct
D.Only 2 and 3 are correct
Solution
Basketball rules
The 24-second shot clock rule is correct — Statement 1 holds.
A player is disqualified on the FIFTH foul in FIBA rules, but "only after committing five" wrongly suggests he plays on through the fifth; the wording makes Statement 2 incorrect.
Statement 3 misdescribes the reverse spin dribble, which is an evasive move to protect the ball from a defender rather than a control drill.
Only 1 — option (b).
41
In medieval Islamic administration, what was the meaning of Khums in the context of taxation?
A.A tax imposed on agricultural harvests
B.A customs duty on merchants and trade caravans
C.One-fifth of war booty and hidden wealth
D.Annual land revenue collected from peasants
Solution
Khums
Khums literally means "one-fifth".
It was the state’s share of war booty and of treasure found buried in the ground.
Kharaj was the land tax and zakat the religious levy on wealth.
Hence option (c).
42
The Yonex-Sunrise 47th Inter State - Inter Zonal & Junior National Badminton Championships 2024 brought together top young shuttlers from across India. Which city hosted this event?
A.Pune, Maharashtra
B.Bhubaneswar, Odisha
C.Chandigarh, Punjab
D.Kochi, Kerala
Solution
Badminton championship
The championships were held at Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
Odisha has hosted a string of national sporting events in recent years.
The tournament brings together state and zonal teams along with junior national entries.
Hence option (b).
43
During alpha decay, which particle is released from the nucleus?
A.Lithium
B.Deuterium
C.Boron
D.Helium
Solution
Alpha decay
An alpha particle is made of two protons and two neutrons.
That is exactly the nucleus of a helium-4 atom.
So the mass number falls by 4 and the atomic number by 2.
Hence option (d).
44
The traditional folk dance called Jhumar is associated with which state?
A.Maharashtra
B.Jharkhand
C.Punjab
D.Kerala
Solution
Jhumar
Jhumar is performed by the tribal communities of Jharkhand.
Men and women dance in a circle to the mandar and nagara, mainly at harvest time.
It is closely linked with the Karma and Sarhul festivals.
Hence option (b).
45
Which international organisation publishes the Logistics Performance Index (LPI)?
A.IMF
B.OECD
C.UNDP
D.World Bank
Solution
LPI publisher
The Logistics Performance Index is published by the World Bank.
It rates countries on customs, infrastructure, shipments, logistics quality, tracking and timeliness.
India stood 38th in the 2023 edition.
Hence option (d).
46
Analyse the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement 1: Taxes on income and dividends from public sector undertakings are treated as revenue receipts in the government budget.
Statement 2: Selling stakes in public sector undertakings (disinvestment) is considered a capital receipt, not a revenue receipt.
A.Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct
B.Only Statement 2 is correct
C.Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct
D.Only Statement 1 is correct
Solution
Revenue vs capital receipts
Income tax and dividends from PSUs are regular earnings that create no liability and reduce no asset — Statement 1 correct.
Disinvestment sells away government-owned shares, so it REDUCES an asset and is therefore a capital receipt — Statement 2 correct.
That is exactly the line dividing revenue receipts from capital receipts.
Both correct — option (c).
47
Alluri Sitarama Raju, leader of the Rampa Rebellion in the 1920s, primarily operated in which present-day Indian state?
A.Kerala
B.Andhra Pradesh
C.Bihar
D.Maharashtra
Solution
Rampa Rebellion
The Rampa Rebellion of 1922-24 took place in the hill tracts of the Godavari region.
That area lies in present-day Andhra Pradesh.
Raju led the tribal people against the forest laws and was shot in 1924.
Hence option (b).
48
What was the primary goal of India's Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-85)?
A.Strengthening defence
B.Poverty reduction and modernisation
C.Promoting foreign trade
D.Accelerated industrial growth
Solution
Sixth Plan
The Sixth Plan marked the beginning of economic liberalisation in a limited way.
Its stated aims were the removal of poverty and the modernisation of technology.
Programmes such as IRDP and NREP came out of this plan.
Hence option (b).
49
Who led the Kol Revolt (1831-1832) in Chotanagpur against British exploitation?
A.Birsa Munda
B.Budhu Bhagat
C.Veer Surendra Sai
D.Tilka Manjhi
Solution
Kol Revolt
The Kol Revolt was led by Budhu Bhagat along with Joa Bhagat and others.
It broke out against outsider landlords and moneylenders who had taken over tribal land.
Birsa Munda led the later Ulgulan of the 1890s.
Hence option (b).
50
Consider the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and choose the correct option:Assertion (A): Globalisation has made India a preferred destination for outsourcing IT and business services.
Reason (R): India provides low-cost, skilled manpower, making it attractive to foreign firms.
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 true, but R is false
D.A is false, but R is true
Solution
Outsourcing (A–R)
India is indeed a leading destination for IT and BPO outsourcing — A is true.
A large English-speaking, technically trained workforce available at lower cost is the main draw — R is true.
That cost-and-skill advantage is precisely WHY the work comes here, so R explains A.
Hence option (a).
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