Learn 77 questions from SSC GD 2025 Shift 2

SSC GD 2025 Shift 2 Questions

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Droupadi Murmu's Gubernatorial Tenure</h3>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Before assuming the office of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu served as the Governor of Jharkhand.</li>
<li>She was the 9th Governor of Jharkhand and held the office from May 18, 2015, to July 12, 2021.</li>
<li>Murmu was the first tribal woman to be appointed as a state Governor in India.</li>
<li>Her tenure as Governor was marked by her focus on developmental issues and good governance.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Background</h4>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Droupadi Murmu's political career began in the 1990s in Rairangpur, Odisha.</li>
<li>She served as a Minister of State in the Odisha government and was a Member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2014.</li>
<li>She was the first tribal woman Chief Minister of Odisha (as the Minister of State with Independent Charge for Commerce and Transport).</li>
<li>Her election as the President of India on July 25, 2022, made her the 15th President of India and the first President from a tribal community.</li>
</ul>

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2017 - Folk Music</h3><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li>The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is India's national honor for performing arts.</li><li>It is given annually by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (India's national academy for music, dance and drama) to artists for their outstanding contribution to music, dance, and drama.</li><li>The award recognizes individuals for their excellence and mastery in various traditional forms.</li><li>In 2017, Padmashree Mukund Nayak was bestowed with this prestigious award in the category of Folk Music.</li><li>Mukund Nayak is a renowned artist known for his significant contributions to the preservation and popularization of folk music traditions.</li><li>He hails from Jharkhand, a state known for its rich tribal and folk art forms.</li><li>The award specifically acknowledged his expertise and dedication to folk music, highlighting its importance in India's cultural tapestry.</li><li>Padma Shri is another significant civilian honor in India, which Mukund Nayak also holds, indicating his national recognition for artistic achievements.</li></ul>

50 per cent less than the cost of production

One-and-a-half times the cost of production

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">First Five-Year Plan in India</h3><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li>The First Five-Year Plan of India was launched in the year 1951.</li><li>This plan was primarily focused on the agricultural sector and aimed at laying the foundation for economic development.</li><li>It was heavily influenced by the Harrod-Domar model, which emphasizes the role of savings and investment in economic growth.</li><li>The plan allocated a significant portion of its budget to irrigation projects, power generation, and transportation infrastructure.</li><li>Key projects initiated during this plan include the Bhakra-Nangal Project and the Hirakud Dam.</li><li>The target growth rate was 2.1% annually, and the actual growth achieved was slightly higher at 3.6%.</li><li>This plan marked the beginning of India's planned economy after independence.</li><li>The Second Five-Year Plan, which followed, shifted its focus towards industrialization.</li></ul>

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Field Dimensions in International Hockey</h3><h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Playing Area:</h4><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li>The standard playing area for an international hockey match is a rectangle.</li><li>The length of the field must be between 91.40 meters (100 yards) and 100 meters (110 yards).</li><li>The width of the field must be between 50 meters (55 yards) and 60 meters (65 yards).</li><li>Crucially for competitive exams, the standard width specified for international matches is 55 meters (60 yards).</li></ul><h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Key Markings:</h4><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li>Goal lines: These run along the width of the field at each end.</li><li>Side lines: These run along the length of the field.</li><li>Center line: This divides the field into two equal halves.</li><li>23-meter lines (also known as the 'drop-off' lines): These lines are marked 23 meters from each goal line, running across the width of the field. They are important for understanding defensive and attacking zones.</li><li>Shooting circles (D-shaped areas): These are marked around each goal. A goal can only be scored if the ball is touched by an attacker within this circle. The radius of the shooting circle is 9 meters from the center of the goal post.</li></ul><h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Goal Size:</h4><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li>The goals are 2 meters high and 3.64 meters wide.</li></ul>

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Padma Shri Awardee Ramlal Bareth</h3>
<h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Recognition for a Living Legend of Kathak</h4>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Ramlal Bareth, an 87-year-old distinguished artist, was honored with the Padma Shri in 2024.</li>
<li>He is celebrated as the sole surviving Kathak dancer associated with the esteemed Raigarh court.</li>
<li>The Raigarh court was a significant patron of arts and culture, particularly Kathak, during its active period.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">About the Padma Shri</h4>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, instituted by the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is awarded annually by the President of India as part of India's Republic Day honours.</li>
<li>The award recognizes achievements in various fields, including arts, literature, education, sports, medicine, social work, and public affairs.</li>
<li>Ramlal Bareth's award highlights the rich legacy of classical Indian dance forms and the importance of preserving traditional artistic lineages.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Kathak Dance - A Brief Overview</h4>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance.</li>
<li>Its origins are traced to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers.</li>
<li>The dance form developed in the courts of the Mughal emperors and later flourished under royal patronage, including in princely states like Raigarh.</li>
<li>Key characteristics include intricate footwork (tatkar), rhythmic patterns (jhaptaal, teentaal), expressive storytelling (abhinaya), and graceful pirouettes (chakkars).</li>
</ul>

National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">The Quit India Movement and the Bombay Session</h3>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>The historic Quit India Resolution was passed at the Bombay Session of the Indian National Congress.</li>
<li>This crucial session was held from August 6th to August 8th, 1942.</li>
<li>The venue for this session was the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai).</li>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous 'Do or Die' speech during this session, urging Indians to participate actively in the struggle for independence.</li>
<li>The resolution called for an immediate end to British rule in India and the establishment of a free and independent government.</li>
<li>It was a call for a mass civil disobedience movement across the country.</li>
<li>The British government's response was swift and repressive, leading to the arrest of most prominent Congress leaders, including Gandhi.</li>
<li>The Bombay Session of 1942 marked a significant turning point in the Indian independence movement, symbolizing the final push towards self-rule.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Key Details for Competitive Exams:</h4>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Year: 1942</li>
<li>Event: Passing of Quit India Resolution</li>
<li>Location: Bombay (Mumbai)</li>
<li>Congress Session: Bombay Session</li>
<li>Key Leader: Mahatma Gandhi</li>
<li>Key Slogan: 'Do or Die'</li>
</ul>

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Census 2011 Literacy Rate Disparity</h3>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>The Census of India 2011 is a crucial source for demographic data, including literacy rates.</li>
<li>Literacy rate is defined as the percentage of the population aged 7 years and above who can both read and write with understanding in any language.</li>
<li>According to Census 2011, Rajasthan recorded the highest difference between male and female literacy rates among all Indian states.</li>
<li>In Rajasthan, the male literacy rate was significantly higher than the female literacy rate, indicating a considerable gender gap in educational attainment in the state at that time.</li>
<li>This gender disparity in literacy is often linked to socio-economic factors, cultural norms, and access to educational opportunities for women.</li>
<li>For competitive exam preparation, understanding such demographic disparities highlighted by census data is important.</li>
<li>Key figures from Census 2011 relevant to this topic include:</li>
<ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">
<li>Overall national literacy rate: 74.04%</li>
<li>Male literacy rate: 82.14%</li>
<li>Female literacy rate: 65.46%</li>
</ul>
<li>States with the highest gender gap in literacy, besides Rajasthan, often include those with lower female literacy rates.</li>
</ul>

• To hasten means to cause something to happen sooner or more quickly. 
• "Speed up" is the most natural phrasal verb synonym.

• Apportion means to divide and assign in proportions (like sharing resources or blame). 
• "Allocate" is its direct synonym.

• In English, the standard phrase for moving onto a platform or stage is "stepping onto."
• The other options (stuck, hit, made) do not fit the context of movement.

• Opaque describes something you cannot see through.
•  The opposite (antonym) is transparent, which allows light to pass through clearly.

• Rudimentary means involving or limited to basic principles. 
• "Primitive" is the closest synonym in the context of basic/early-stage understanding.

• When someone is confused by a complex explanation, they are figuratively "scratching their heads."

• The word "neither" is treated as a singular pronoun.
•  Therefore, it must be followed by the singular verb "has" rather than the plural "have."

This question tests your knowledge of Adverbs vs. Adjectives.

The Problem: In this sentence, the word following the verb "fell" is intended to describe how the rain was falling. To describe a verb, we must use an adverb, not an adjective.

The Error: "Heavy" is an adjective (used to describe nouns, like "heavy rain").

The Fix: Change the adjective "heavy" to the adverb "heavily."

Correct Sentence: "The rain fell heavily and caused flooding in the streets."

• This idiom describes being in a hard-pressed situation where there is very little room to maneuver or escape.

To give one a long rope Correct Answer: B

• This question focuses on Vocabulary and Word Meanings.

The Meaning: To "Dodge" means to avoid someone or something by a sudden, quick movement, or to evade a responsibility or question through cleverness or deceit.

The Synonym: "Trick" is the most appropriate synonym here because both words involve using cleverness or deception to bypass a situation or person. In many contexts, dodging a question is seen as a "trick" to avoid the truth.

• in English, adverbs of degree/frequency (like barely) usually go between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. 
• Sentence C is incorrect because "barely" is misplaced after the verb phrase.

Mohan could usually make out the distant figure.

Mohan could barely make out the distant figure.

Mohan could make out barely the distant figure.

Mohan could often make out the distant figure.

• This question tests your understanding of quantifiers and noun phrases.

The Problem: The phrase "few some time" is grammatically incorrect because "few" and "some" are both quantifiers that cannot be used together in this manner. Furthermore, "few" is used with countable nouns (like few hours), while "time" (in this context) is an uncountable noun.

The Logic:

"Some time" is the standard way to indicate an unspecified amount of time.

"Quite some time" is a very common English idiom meaning "a long time" or "a significant amount of time."

• This follows the classic rule: "I before E except after C." 
• The correct spelling is received.

This question evaluates your understanding of Idioms, which are phrases where the meaning cannot be understood just by looking at the individual words.

The Idiom: "Play your cards right" originates from card games. It means to handle a situation cleverly and strategically to achieve the best possible outcome.

The Context: The sentence describes someone who acts to "maximise his advantages" and get the "best deal" during negotiations. This is a perfect match for the strategic nature of "playing your cards right."

• This question tests your Spelling Accuracy, specifically with words containing silent or subtle vowel combinations.

The Error: The word is missing a 'u'. The spelling "ambigous" is incorrect.

The Correction: The correct spelling is Ambiguous.

Rule: Words ending in the "gw-us" sound often require the -uous suffix (e.g., continuous, virtuous, ambiguous).

Meanings of the words in the sentence:

Spurious: Fake or false (Correctly spelt).

Ambiguous: Unclear or having a double meaning (Incorrectly spelt in the question).

Untenable: Not able to be maintained or defended (Correctly spelt).

Conclusions: The end or finish of an event/process (Correctly spelt).

• This question tests your knowledge of Prepositions of Time.

The Rule: We use the preposition "on" for specific days of the week (e.g., on Monday) and for weekends.

Usage: "On weekends" or "At the weekend" (British English) are both correct, but "on" is the standard choice among the options provided.

Why the others are wrong:

In: Used for longer periods like months, years, or seasons (e.g., in January, in 2024).

Before/During: While grammatically possible in some contexts, they don't fit the general habitual statement "love to go to the park... weekends." "On" is the most natural way to express a recurring time.

• This question tests your ability to choose the correct verb based on the context of the sentence and the tense of the passage.

The Context: Sarah and Tom are preparing for a picnic. They are putting together sandwiches, fruit, and juice into a basket.

The Logic: Among the likely options for a cloze test of this type (such as packed, prepared, or arranged), "arranged" fits perfectly as it means to put things in a neat, specific order or to plan and prepare something.

Tense Consistency: The passage is written in the Simple Past Tense (e.g., "Last Sunday," "spread," "enjoyed"). "Arranged" is the past tense form, which maintains the flow of the story.

• This question tests your ability to maintain tense consistency and understand logical context within a narrative.

The Context: The passage describes things Sarah and Tom took with them to the park. Since they already had a picnic basket (from blank 2), it follows that they brought a blanket and a frisbee from home to use there.

The Tense: The story is told in the Simple Past Tense (indicated by "Last Sunday," "spread," and "enjoyed").

"Brought" is the past tense of "bring."

"Manage," "Buy," and "Arrange" are in the present tense, which breaks the grammatical flow of the story.

Logic: They wouldn't necessarily "buy" a blanket at the park; they would bring one they already own.

• This question tests your knowledge of Subject-Verb Agreement and Tense Consistency.

The Subject: Since the sentence refers to Sarah and Tom, the plural pronoun "they" is required.

The Tense: The entire passage is a narrative about a past event ("Last Sunday"). Therefore, the verb must be in the Simple Past Tense.

Arrived is the correct past tense form of "arrive."

• This question focuses on Tense Consistency and Subject-Verb Agreement within a narrative.

The Subject: The story is about Sarah and Tom, so the plural pronoun "they" is the most natural fit to maintain the flow.

The Tense: As established in the previous questions, the entire passage is set in the Simple Past Tense (Last Sunday, spread, enjoyed, had).

"Decided" is the past tense form of "decide."

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