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CDS GK Questions 2026

Static GK carries most of the 100 marks of the CDS General Knowledge paper. Of the 120 questions in the CDS (II) 2026 paper, about 20 were on Indian Polity, about 20 on the History of India, about 15 on Geography and the environment, about 10 on the Indian Economy and about 37 on Physics, Chemistry and Biology, which makes CDS the most science-heavy General Knowledge paper among the major recruitment exams. Polity questions test writs, the NHRC, electoral systems, disqualification of legislators, GST and delimitation. History runs from the Upanishads and the Shunga dynasty to Vijayanagara, temple architecture, the Sylhet referendum and the SNDP Yogam. Geography asks about the atmosphere, earthquakes and tsunamis, Ramsar sites, mangroves and World Heritage sites. Science stays at school level but expects reasoning: a lens problem, a magnetic field direction, molarity versus molality, what cooking soda is, how enzymes act. This page holds GK24's topic-wise GK notes for CDS, written as short facts and tables so that a topic can be revised in one sitting. Read a topic, then solve its previous-year questions and quiz on this site to check what stayed with you.

CDS GK Questions with Answers

Q1981.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2021, GATMedium

Light waves are incident on an air-glass boundary. Some of the light waves are reflected and some are refracted in the glass. Which one of the following properties is the same for the incident wave and the refracted wave?

  1. A.Speed
  2. B.Direction
  3. C.Brightness
  4. D.Frequency
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Frequency

The frequency of a wave is set by its source, so it does not change when light passes from air into glass; only the speed and wavelength change.

Q1982.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2022, GATHard

Two resistors R1 and R2 arranged in parallel combination in an electrical closed circuit are made of the same material and of same thickness. If the length of R2 is twice the length of R1, then the total resistance R satisfies

  1. A.3R = 2R1
  2. B.3R = 2R2
  3. C.2R = 3R1
  4. D.2R = 3R2
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 3R = 2R1

Since both wires have the same material and thickness, resistance is proportional to length, so R2 = 2R1, and the parallel combination works out to R = 2R1/3.

Q1984.Art & CultureAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2023, GATHard

Consider the following statements regarding Sanchi and its archaeological findings: 1. When Sanchi was discovered in 1818, three of its four gateways were still standing, the fourth was lying on the spot where it had fallen 2. Animals depicted at Sanchi include elephants, horses, monkeys and cattle Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.Only 1
  2. B.Only 2
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Both statements match the record of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, in Madhya Pradesh, as NCERT's Class 12 history text describes it.

Q1985.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2024, GATMedium

Which one among the following statements with reference to the properties of water is not correct?

  1. A.The specific heat of water is abnormally high.
  2. B.Latent heat of fusion of water is very low.
  3. C.Density of water is higher than ice.
  4. D.Pure water is a non-conductor of electricity.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Latent heat of fusion of water is very low.

The statement is false because the latent heat of fusion of ice is high, about 334 joules per gram, or roughly 80 calories per gram.

Q1990.DefenceHard

The trainees of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron visited which training centre during the Maldives port call?

  1. A.Girifushi Training Centre
  2. B.Hulhumale Naval Academy
  3. C.Addu Maritime Training School
  4. D.Kadhdhoo Defence Institute
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Girifushi Training Centre

As part of the training exchanges arranged during the port call, trainees of the First Training Squadron visited this centre, while the Senior Officer of the squadron called on the Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force, on the Commandant of the MNDF Coast Guard and on…

Q1991.DefenceMedium

MAHASAGAR, the vision mentioned in connection with the First Training Squadron's visit to the Maldives, stands for which of the following?

  1. A.Maritime Alliance for Harmony, Security and Growth Across Regions
  2. B.Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions
  3. C.Mission for Advancement of Shared Growth and Regional Security
  4. D.Maritime Highway for Safety, Growth and Regional Stability
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions

The Ministry of Defence used exactly this expansion while placing the squadron's Maldives port call within India's maritime outreach, saying the visit underscored growing maritime cooperation between the two countries.

Q1993.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IEasy

Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing" ?

  1. A.Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound
  2. B.Non-inclusion of ecological/ environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country
  3. C.Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development
  4. D.Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound

Greenwashing is misleading green marketing. The word joins "green" with "whitewashing", which means covering up faults.

Q1994.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following statements : 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 only

The International Solar Alliance was launched at the 2015 climate conference, but it does not include every UN member.

Q1995.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India ?

  1. A.Francois Bernier
  2. B.Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
  3. C.Jean de Thevenot
  4. D.Abbe Barthelemy Carre
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

He was a French gem merchant, and his travel account describes India's diamonds and mines in detail. Tavernier made six voyages to the East between about 1630 and 1668 and visited India several times during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.

Q1996.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IHard

In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs : (Term : Description) 1. Eripatti : Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank 2. Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins 3. Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to the temples Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. A.1 and 2
  2. B.3 only
  3. C.2 and 3
  4. D.1 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1 and 3

Eripatti and Ghatikas are described correctly, but Taniyurs were not villages gifted to Brahmins. These terms come from inscriptions of early medieval South India, especially of the Pallava and Chola periods.

Q1997.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?

  1. A.It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
  2. B.It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
  3. C.It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
  4. D.It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Show answer
Correct answer: D. It can build fusion reactors for power generation

ITER is an experiment to prove that nuclear fusion can work as a large-scale energy source, and every member shares its technology.

Q1999.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements : 1. AIIB has more than 80 member nations. 2. India is the largest shareholder in AIIB. 3. AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 and 3 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 only

AIIB has well over 80 members, but China, not India, is its largest shareholder, and many members are outside Asia.

Q2000.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies. 2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies. 3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.1 and 3
  4. D.2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 2 only

A law now limits a candidate to two seats, and no rule makes the party pay for by-elections.