Dakshayani, recently in the news and sometimes called "Gaja Muthassi", refers to which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
News based general knowledge often features notable animals that have cultural, religious, or conservation significance. Dakshayani, sometimes affectionately referred to as “Gaja Muthassi” meaning “elephant grandmother”, is one such figure that appeared in national headlines. This question asks you to identify what Dakshayani refers to among the given categories.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The name mentioned is Dakshayani.
• She has been in the news and is also known as “Gaja Muthassi”.
• Options are broad categories: Plant, Animal, River, and Train.
• Only one category correctly describes Dakshayani.

Concept / Approach:
Dakshayani was a very old captive elephant in Kerala, revered in temple festivals and public events. The nickname “Gaja Muthassi” clearly indicates an elephant, as “Gaja” means elephant in Sanskrit and many Indian languages. She gained media attention due to her age and the care she received. The approach is to recall that Dakshayani was an elephant and therefore fits the category “Animal”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the nickname “Gaja Muthassi”, which translates roughly to “elephant grandmother”. Step 2: Recognise that this strongly indicates that Dakshayani is an elephant. Step 3: Among the options Plant, Animal, River, and Train, identify that an elephant belongs to the category “Animal”. Step 4: Confirm from general news that Dakshayani was indeed described as one of the oldest elephants in captivity. Step 5: Select Animal (Option B) as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
For verification, recall that various news reports mentioned Dakshayani in connection with temple festivals, animal welfare discussions, and her advanced age. None of these contexts would make sense if Dakshayani were a plant, river, or train. The nickname with “Gaja” further rules out non animal interpretations. This reconfirms that the correct classification is Animal.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Plant: There is no major plant species or tree widely known as Dakshayani or called “Gaja Muthassi”, so this option is incorrect.
River: Indian rivers typically have names like Ganga, Yamuna, or Godavari; Dakshayani in recent news is not associated with any river system.
Train: Although trains sometimes have names of people or deities, Dakshayani in current affairs refers specifically to an aged elephant, not a train service.

Common Pitfalls:
A possible pitfall is not paying attention to the cultural cue in the nickname “Gaja Muthassi” and treating Dakshayani as an unfamiliar term to guess randomly. Another mistake is confusing it with other names used for infrastructure projects or trains. To avoid such errors, use language hints like “Gaja” and recall that many temple elephants in Kerala are well known by name, with Dakshayani being one of the most famous among them.

Final Answer:
Animal