Based on the English alphabetical order, three of the following four letter-cluster pairs are alike in a certain way and thus form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?
(Note: The odd man out is not based on the number of consonants/vowels or their position in the letter-cluster.)

A. CF−HK
B. MN−RS
C. UV−ZA
D. EI−JP

Odd Letter Pair
Pattern check (use alphabet positions)
C(3) → H(8) = +5
F(6) → K(11) = +5

Now check others:
MN–RS → M(+5) → R, N(+5) → S ✔
UV–ZA → U(+5) → Z, V(+5) → A ✔
EI–JP → E(+5) →J, I(+7) → P ❌ (breaks pattern)

✅ Answer: D. EI−JP
👉 Trick: Look for consistent +5 shift pattern.

AB and CD are parallel lines cut by a transversal t. If ∠AEF = 78^∘ and EG bisects ∠AEF, what is the acute angle between EG and line CD?

A. $35^o$
B. $39^o$
C. $45^o$
D. $51^o$

Solution
Since EG bisects ∠AEF = 78^∘,
Bisect means half of 78.
∠AEG = ∠GEF = 39^∘
Because AB ∥ CD, the acute angle that EG makes with CD is also 39^∘.
Correct answer: B. 39^∘

In which state is the Bihu festival celebrated?

A. Odisha
B. Assam
C. Bihar
D. Karnataka

Bihu is celebrated across Assam. The Assam government’s cultural affairs page lists Bihu as a major festival of the state and says it is celebrated across Assam with enthusiasm.
✅ Answer: B. Assam

Which organization was the implementing agency for the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS)?

A. FCI
B. ICAR
C. AIC
D. NABARD

The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) scheme document states that the implementing agency was the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC).
✅ Answer: C. AIC

Simplify $4\frac{1}{2}\ ÷\ 3.6\ ×\ 0.8\ ÷\ (\frac{2}{5}\ ×\ 10)$

A. 1/4
B. 1/3
C. 2/5
D. 3/5

Solution
Convert the mixed fraction:$$4\frac{1}{2}=4.5$$
Now calculate left to right:$$4.5 \div 3.6 = 1.25$$$$1.25 \times 0.8 = 1$$$$\left(\frac{2}{5}\times 10\right)=4$$$$1 \div 4 = \frac{1}{4}$$
Correct answer: A. 1/4

If $x^2 − 6x + 9 = 0$ and $x^2 − (a + 1)x + (2a + 1) = 0$ have one common root, then the value of $\frac{(a+2)(a+3)}{a−4}$ ​is:

A. 18
B. 24
C. 30
D. 42

Solution
The first equation is:$$x^2-6x+9=0$$which is$$(x-3)^2=0$$
So the common root is x = 3.
Substitute x = 3 into the second equation:$$3^2-(a+1)3+(2a+1)=0$$$$9-3a-3+2a+1=0$$$$7-a=0$$$$a=7$$Now evaluate:$$\frac{(a+2)(a+3)}{a-4}=\frac{(9)(10)}{3}=30$$
Correct answer: C. 30

During a sale, 60% of the goods are sold at 10% profit, 25% of the remaining goods are sold at 20% profit, and the rest are sold at 10% loss. What is the overall profit percentage?

A. 4%
B. 5%
C. 6%
D. 7%

Solution
Take total goods as 100 units with total cost 100.
60 goods sold at 10% profit:$$60 \times 10\% = 6$$
Remaining goods = 40.
25% of remaining = 10 goods sold at 20% profit:$$10 \times 20\% = 2$$
Remaining = 30 goods sold at 10% loss:$$30 \times 10\% = 3$$
Net profit:$$6+2-3=5$$
So overall profit percentage = 5%.
Correct answer: B. 5%

Which country officially became the 33rd member of NATO in early 2026?

A) Ukraine
B) Kosovo
C) Sweden
D) Japan

Sweden: After a long diplomatic process, Sweden’s full integration into NATO was finalized in early 2026.
✅ Answer: C. Sweden

In March 2026, which Indian city became the first in the country to implement a “Zero-Waste” mandate for all residential societies?

A) Indore
B) Surat
C) Bengaluru
D) Navi Mumbai

Indore: Maintaining its streak as India’s cleanest city, Indore mandated that no residential waste should leave the society gates without being processed or composted.
✅ Answer: A. Indore

Who was awarded the Bharat Ratna in January 2026 for their contribution to Indian classical music and global cultural diplomacy?

A) Zakir Hussain
B) A.R. Rahman
C) Amjad Ali Khan
D) Shankar Mahadevan

Zakir Hussain: The legendary tabla maestro was honored with India’s highest civilian award for his decades of service to Indian percussion.
✅ Answer: A. Zakir Hussain

What is the name of India’s first “Deep Ocean Mission” vessel that reached a depth of 6,000 meters in March 2026?

A) Samudrayaan (Matsya 6000)
B) Sagar Ratna
C) Deep-Sea 1
D) Jalashwa

Samudrayaan (Matsya 6000): This mission marked India’s entry into the elite club of nations (US, Russia, France, Japan, China) with deep-sea manned submersibles.
✅ Answer: A. Samudrayaan (Matsya 6000)

A shopkeeper fixes the marked price of an item 140% above its cost price. What percentage of discount on marked price should be allowed to gain 14%?

A. 60.09%
B. 52.5%
C. 57.8%
D. 62.1%

Discount Problem
MP = Market Price
CP = Cost Price
SP = Selling Price
Let cost price = 100.
Marked price is 180% above cost: 100 + 140% = 240
MP = 240, CP = 100
SP needed = 114 (100 + 14%)
Discount = $\frac{240 – 114}{240} \times 100 = 52.5\%$
✅ Answer: A. 52.5%
👉 Trick: Assume CP=100.

In a certain code language, FIRE is coded as HLVJ and BOLD is coded as DRPI. What is the code for MUSE?

A. OXWJ
B. OXVJ
C. OYWJ
D. OXWI

The Pattern: +2, +3, +4, +5.
FIRE —> HLVJ
F + 2 = H
I + 3 = L
R + 4 = V
E + 5 = J

BOLD —> DRPI
B + 2 = D
O + 3 = R
L + 4 = P
D + 5 = I

Same logic applies on this: MUSE
M + 2 = O
U + 3 = X
S + 4 = W
E + 5 = J

✅ Answer: A. OXWJ

Which tech giant launched the “Indi-LLM” in February 2026, the first AI model specifically trained on 22 official Indian languages?

A) Google
B) Microsoft
C) Reliance (Jio)
D) Meta

Reliance (Jio): In partnership with Nvidia, Jio launched Indi-LLM to bridge the digital divide for non-English speaking Indians.
✅ Answer: C. Reliance (Jio)

Pattachitra, a traditional cloth painting style, is associated with which state?

A. Odisha
B. Assam
C. Telangana
D. Rajasthan

Pattachitra is a traditional art form associated with Odisha. The Odisha government’s tourism page describes Pattachitra as an Odisha tradition.
✅ Answer: A. Odisha

A shopkeeper purchased 36 dozen notebooks at ₹180 per dozen. He sold each notebook at ₹20. What profit percentage did he make?

A. 30%
B. 33.33%
C. 35%
D. 40%

Solution
36 dozen = 432 notebooks.
Cost price per notebook:$$\frac{180}{12}=15$$
Total cost: 432 × 15 = 6480
Selling price per notebook = 20
Total selling price: 432 × 20 = 8640
Profit: 8640 − 6480 = 2160
Profit percentage:$$\frac{2160}{6480}\times 100 = 33.33\%$$
Correct answer: B. 33.33%

The 2026 Winter Olympics, which concluded in February, were hosted in which European cities?

A. Paris & Lyon
B. Milan & Cortina
C. Oslo & Bergen
D. Zurich & Geneva

Milan & Cortina: The 2026 Winter Olympics were held across these two Italian locations.
✅ Answer: B. Milan & Cortina

Which Indian state launched the “Udyogini 2.0” scheme in April 2026 to provide interest-free loans to 1 million women entrepreneurs?

A) Uttar Pradesh
B) Kerala
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Maharashtra

Maharashtra: The state government expanded the scheme to boost rural economies through women-led small businesses.
✅ Answer: D. Maharashtra

Seven people T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z each have an engagement on a different day from Monday to Sunday.
V is on Monday.
Y is on Saturday.
X is on Sunday.
W is immediately before Z, and T is immediately after Z.
U has an engagement after T but before X.
How many people have engagements between V and U?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Solution
The day positions become:
V = Monday
Y = Saturday
X = Sunday
W, Z, T must fit as Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
U must be Friday because it is after T but before X
So between V (Monday) and U (Friday) are:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday = 3 people
Correct answer: C. 3

Find the average of 268, 124, 96 and 92.

A. 143
B. 144
C. 145
D. 146

Solution$$268+124+96+92=580$$$$\text{Average}=\frac{580}{4}=145$$
Correct answer: C. 145

As per the RBI report released in April 2026, what is India’s projected GDP growth for the fiscal year 2026-27?

A) 6.5%
B) 7.2%
C) 7.8%
D) 8.1%

7.8%: Strong domestic demand and infrastructure spending led the RBI to project a robust 7.8% growth rate.
✅ Answer: C. 7.8%

Which country hosted the “World Water Summit” in March 2026, focusing on the preservation of the Himalayan glaciers?

A) India
B) Nepal
C) Bhutan
D) Switzerland

Nepal: The Kathmandu summit emphasized the rapid melting of “The Third Pole” and its impact on South Asian water security.
✅ Answer: B. Nepal

Leena starts from point A, walks 10 km north, 8 km east, 6 km south, 4 km west and 4 km south. How far and in which direction should she go to return to point A?

A. 4 km west
B. 4 km east
C. 6 km south
D. 10 km north

🧭 Step-by-step movement (build the path in your head)
Start at Point A ( If not given always assume face is towards North)
10 km North → go straight from point A
8 km East = took right,
6 km South = took right,
4 km West = took right,
4 km South = took left, → reach Point P

🧠 Now track net movement (KEY STEP)
Horizontal (East-West):
West: 4
East: 8
👉 Net = 8 – 4 km East

Vertical (North-South):
South: 6 + 4
North: 10
👉 Net = 10 – 6 – 4 = 0 (Cancel out)

📍 Final Position
👉 Point P is 4 km East of A

🔁 To return to A
You must go:
👉 4 km West
✅ Answer: A. 4 km west

Which letter-number cluster completes the series?
BDF 14, EGI 17, HJL 20, KMO 23, ?

A. NPR 26
B. NQS 26
C. NPR 29
D. MPR 26

Solution
Pattern:
First letters: B, E, H, K, N
Second letters: D, G, J, M, P
Third letters: F, I, L, O, R
Numbers: 14, 17, 20, 23, 26
So the next term is NPR 26.
Correct answer: A. NPR 26

Who composed the Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II?

A. Harisena
B. Ravikirti
C. Vishakhadatta
D. Kalidasa

The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II was composed by the poet Ravikirti. An official ASI post identifies the inscription as composed by poet Ravikirti in honor of Pulakeshin II.
✅ Answer: B. Ravikirti