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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

Q2941.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

Statement I : Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II : Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
  2. B.Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
  3. C.Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
  4. D.Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

The United States, not Brazil, is the world's largest ethanol producer, while the feedstocks named in Statement II are right.

Q2942.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India :

1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha.

3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee.

4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

  1. A.There are four correct statements.
  2. B.There is only one correct statement, that is statement 2.
  3. C.There are two correct statements, that include statement 1.
  4. D.There is no correct statement.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. There is no correct statement.

Each of the four statements gets a basic feature of this committee wrong. The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has 30 members: 20 elected by the Lok Sabha and 10 by the Rajya Sabha, by proportional representation through the single transferable vote.

Q2943.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

The terms 'Event Horizon', 'Singularity', 'String Theory' and 'Standard Model' are sometimes seen in the news in the context of

  1. A.Observation and understanding of the Universe
  2. B.Study of the solar and the lunar eclipses
  3. C.Placing satellites in the orbit of the Earth
  4. D.Origin and evolution of living organisms on the Earth
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Observation and understanding of the Universe

All four terms come from physics and cosmology, the study of how the universe and its matter work. An event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape.

Q2944.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.

2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.

3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.

4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Tyagaraja created several new ragas, and Annamacharya's kirtanas praise Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. Tyagaraja (1767–1847) of Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu is one of the Trinity of Carnatic music, with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri.

Q2945.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

  1. A.Recently discovered uranium deposits
  2. B.Tropical rain forests
  3. C.Underground cave systems
  4. D.Water reservoirs
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Water reservoirs

Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati are all dams with reservoirs built for irrigation in different parts of India. The Aliyar dam stands on the Aliyar river near Pollachi in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, at the foot of the Anamalai hills, and is part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar project.

Q2946.Important Days & DatesAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.

2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

Which of the above statements 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: B. 2 only

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO, not UNICEF, while the demand for Bangla as a national language was indeed raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly.

Q2947.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IHard

In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m³ and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

The 2021 WHO guidelines set PM2.5 at 15 µg/m³ for a 24-hour mean and 5 µg/m³ for the annual mean, and ground-level ozone is a known trigger of asthma attacks.

Q2948.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements :

1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed.

2. Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.

3. Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Only statement 2 is correct: the biofilter's job in a Recirculating Aquaculture System is to turn toxic ammonia into much less harmful nitrate.

Q2949.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IEasy

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

  1. A.India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
  2. B.India to Central Asia via China
  3. C.India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
  4. D.India to Europe through Azerbaijan
Show answer
Correct answer: A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

The INSTC links Indian ports by sea to Iran and then by rail and road northwards to Central Asia, Russia and on to Europe.

Q2950.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India :

1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House.

2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer.

3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

  1. A.All the three statements are correct.
  2. B.There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
  3. C.There is only one correct statement.
  4. D.There is no correct statement.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. There is only one correct statement.

Statements 1 and 2 swap the meanings of starred and unstarred questions; only statement 3 is right. A starred question, marked with an asterisk, is one to which the Member wants an oral answer on the floor of the House, and supplementary questions may follow it.

Q2951.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IHard

As per Census 2011, which one of the following is the correct descending order of States in India in respect of sex ratio (female per thousand of males)?

  1. A.West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Uttarakhand - Jammu and Kashmir
  2. B.Madhya Pradesh - West Bengal - Jammu and Kashmir - Uttarakhand
  3. C.Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
  4. D.West Bengal - Uttarakhand - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir

In Census 2011 their sex ratios were about 963, 950, 931 and 889 females per 1,000 males. Census 2011 put India's overall sex ratio at 943.

Q2952.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

In relation to the powers of the Union Government of India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

  1. A.The Government of India may undertake legislative functions of a territory outside of India by agreement with the Government of that territory
  2. B.The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends
  3. C.The Union Government may direct States for construction and maintenance of means of communication of military importance
  4. D.The Governor may, with consent of Government of India, entrust its officers with functions on matters which fall within the executive power of the State
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends

It is not correct, because Article 258 expressly lets the President, with a State Government's consent, entrust to it functions on any matter to which the Union's executive power extends.

Q2953.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct?

1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed.

2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri.

3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri.

4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true, but in 1585 Akbar moved his capital to Lahore, not back to Agra.

Q2954.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2026, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements about a geographical feature :

1. The feature is in close proximity to the Malacca Strait.

2. The Government of India proposed an international container transhipment port in this region.

3. The region is one of the most critical nesting grounds for the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

4. The region is home to dense forest, rich coral reefs and sea grass meadows.

Which one among the following geographical features is described above?

  1. A.Galathea Bay
  2. B.Gulf of Mannar
  3. C.Gulf of Kutch
  4. D.Palk Strait
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Galathea Bay

Galathea Bay, on the south-east coast of Great Nicobar Island, fits all four clues. Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of India, and its tip, Indira Point, lies only about 150 km from the northern entrance of the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Q2955.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following pairs of Island and Sea/Ocean is NOT correctly matched?

  1. A.Cyprus : Mediterranean Sea
  2. B.Falkland : Atlantic Ocean
  3. C.Chagos : North Pacific Ocean
  4. D.Islas Cocos : Indian Ocean
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Chagos : North Pacific Ocean

The Chagos Archipelago lies in the central Indian Ocean, not in the North Pacific. The Chagos Islands lie south of the Maldives, roughly 500 km away, and include Diego Garcia, the site of a major military base.

Q2956.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IEasy

At which one of the following places is the Vitthala temple located?

  1. A.Elephanta
  2. B.Chidambaram
  3. C.Hampi
  4. D.Nagarjunakonda
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Hampi

The Vitthala temple stands in Hampi, the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in present-day Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Vishnu, and was built mainly in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with major additions under Krishnadevaraya.

Q2960.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements about the Lingayats :

1. They bury their dead

2. They are great believers in the caste system, especially in the theory of purity and pollution

3. They are against child marriage and favour widow remarriage

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Lingayats bury their dead and opposed child marriage while accepting widow remarriage, but they rejected the caste system and ideas of pollution.