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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

Q2922.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following countries:

1. Italy

2. Japan

3. Nigeria

4. South Korea

5. South Africa

Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population or declining population ?

  1. A.1, 2 and 4
  2. B.1, 3 and 5
  3. C.2 and 4 only
  4. D.3 and 5 only
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1, 2 and 4

Italy, Japan and South Korea all have fertility rates far below the replacement level of about 2.1 children per woman, ageing people and shrinking numbers.

Q2923.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

A country's fiscal deficit stands at ₹50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country's interest liabilities are ₹1,500 crores. What is the gross primary deficit?

  1. A.₹48,500 crores
  2. B.₹51,500 crores
  3. C.₹58,500 crores
  4. D.None of the above
Show answer
Correct answer: A. ₹48,500 crores

Gross primary deficit is the fiscal deficit minus interest payments: 50,000 − 1,500 = ₹48,500 crores. The fiscal deficit is total expenditure minus total receipts other than borrowings, so it already takes account of non-debt capital receipts such as recovery of loans and disinvestment proceeds.

Q2924.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries :

1. 'Maitri Setu', built over Feni river, connects Ramgarh in India with Sabroom in Bangladesh.

2. Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Myanmar.

3. Mechi bridge and its approaches connect Panitanki Bypass in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

The Mechi bridge links Panitanki in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal; the other two statements get the places or the country wrong.

Q2925.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IEasy

The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the

  1. A.agitation against the Partition of Bengal
  2. B.Home Rule Movement
  3. C.Non-Cooperation Movement
  4. D.visit of the Simon Commission to India
Show answer
Correct answer: A. agitation against the Partition of Bengal

Swadeshi and boycott were first adopted as national methods of struggle in the movement against Lord Curzon's partition of Bengal.

Q2926.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that

  1. A.the executive and legislature work independently.
  2. B.it provides continuity of policy and is more efficient.
  3. C.the executive remains responsible to the legislature.
  4. D.the head of the government cannot be changed without election.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. the executive remains responsible to the legislature.

In a parliamentary system the government holds office only while it keeps the confidence of the elected House, which makes it answerable every day.

Q2927.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money ?

  1. A.The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases
  2. B.The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims
  3. C.The bank money in the form of cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.
  4. D.The metallic money in circulation in a country
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims

Legal tender is money that the law says must be accepted in payment of a debt. In India, banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank under the RBI Act, 1934 are unlimited legal tender: no one can refuse them for any amount.

Q2928.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes ?

1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets

2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks

3. Consumption requirements of farm households

4. Post-harvest expenses

5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1, 2 and 5 only
  2. B.1, 3 and 4 only
  3. C.2, 3, 4 and 5 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 1, 3 and 4 only

The short-term part of the Kisan Credit Card covers working capital for farm assets, household consumption needs and post-harvest expenses.

Q2929.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements:

1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.

2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.

3. The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Palm oil is used in cosmetics such as lipstick and perfume and as a feedstock for biodiesel, but the oil palm is native to West Africa, not Southeast Asia.

Q2930.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements :

1. Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.

2. Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.

3. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.

4. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

PET fibre (polyester) is blended with wool and cotton, and PET bottles are widely recycled into new products. Polyethylene terephthalate is a polyester made from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

Q2932.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IEasy

As per Article 368 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament may amend any provision of the Constitution by way of :

1. Addition

2. Variation

3. Repeal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Article 368(1) says Parliament may amend 'by way of addition, variation or repeal' any provision of the Constitution. Article 368 in Part XX lays down both the power and the procedure of amendment.

Q2933.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future ?

1. Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.

2. This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.

3. It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  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: D. 1, 2 and 3

Genome sequencing helps find useful genes, speeds up breeding and shows how pathogens attack crops. Genome sequencing reads the complete order of bases in an organism's DNA.

Q2934.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"?

1. Limitation of powers

2. Equality before law

3. People's responsibility to the Government

4. Liberty and civil rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

The Rule of Law means that power is limited by law, everyone is equal before the law, and individual liberties are protected.

Q2935.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements :

1. The main advantage of the use of H-CNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions.

2. H-CNG as fuel reduces carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions.

3. Hydrogen up to one-fifth by volume can be blended with CNG as fuel for buses.

4. H-CNG makes the fuel less expensive than CNG.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

H-CNG lowers carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions, and hydrogen up to about a fifth by volume can be mixed into CNG for buses.

Q2936.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past ?

1. Minimum Support Price

2. Government's trading

3. Government's stockpiling

4. Consumer subsidies

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

All four policies shape the market price of rice in India, because the government is the biggest buyer, holder and seller of the grain.

Q2937.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.

2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.

3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.

4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Permaculture avoids monoculture, does not build up salt in the soil and relies on mulching; only statement 3 is wrong.

Q2938.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:

1. It is a fungus.

2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.

3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Gucchi is the morel mushroom, a fungus that grows wild in Himalayan forests, but it is not commercially cultivated. Gucchi (Morchella esculenta) has a honeycomb-like cap and is one of the costliest mushrooms in the world, often selling for tens of thousands of rupees a kilogram.

Q2939.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs :

Objects in space : Description

1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space

2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically

3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.All three
  4. D.None
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Only one

Only pair 3 is right; the descriptions of Cepheids and nebulae have been swapped. Cepheid variables are pulsating stars that brighten and dim on a regular cycle.

Q2940.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO :

1. Shantiniketan

2. Rani-ki-Vav

3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.Only three
  4. D.All four
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Only two

Santiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas were inscribed in 2023; the other two were listed years earlier. Both were added at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee at Riyadh in September 2023, taking India's total to 42 sites at the time.