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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

Q3101.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

"Climate Action Tracker" which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a :

  1. A.Database created by coalition of research organisations
  2. B.Wing of "International Panel of Climate Change"
  3. C.Committee under "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"
  4. D.Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Database created by coalition of research organisations

The Climate Action Tracker is an independent scientific analysis run by research groups, not by any UN body. It is produced mainly by two non-profit research organisations, Climate Analytics and the NewClimate Institute, and has tracked national climate action since 2009.

Q3102.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements :

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.

2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.

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: B. 2 only

Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, a zamindar who missed the fixed date of payment lost his estate, while the Ryotwari system gave the peasant no relief in bad years.

Q3103.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India :

I. List I-Union List, in the Seventh Schedule

II. Extent of the executive power of a State

III. Conditions of the Governor's office

For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?

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

Both the lists of the Seventh Schedule and the extent of a State's executive power are federal provisions named in the proviso to Article 368(2), so changing them needs ratification by half the State Legislatures.

Q3104.DefenceHard

HMS Sutherland, the Royal Navy ship in KONKAN-26, is a frigate of which class, built mainly for which role?

  1. A.Type 45 class, air defence
  2. B.Duke class, anti-submarine warfare
  3. C.River class, offshore patrol
  4. D.Astute class, mine warfare
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Duke class, anti-submarine warfare

HMS Sutherland, the ship the Royal Navy deployed for KONKAN-26, is described as a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate, and anti-submarine warfare was indeed one of the areas the two navies practised during the sea phase.

Q3108.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2019, GKMedium

Which one of the following equals Personal Disposable Income ?

  1. A.Personal Income - Direct taxes paid by households and miscellaneous fees, fines, etc.
  2. B.Private Income - Saving of Private Corporate Sectors - Corporation Tax
  3. C.Private Income - Taxes
  4. D.Total expenditure of Households - Income Tax - Gifts received
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Personal Income - Direct taxes paid by households and miscellaneous fees, fines, etc.

In national income accounting the steps run from private income to personal income to personal disposable income. Private income is the factor income of the private sector plus transfers.

Q3110.Important Days & DatesAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GKEasy

August 12 is celebrated as

  1. A.the World Environment Day
  2. B.the World No-Tobacco Day
  3. C.the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
  4. D.the International Youth Day
Show answer
Correct answer: D. the International Youth Day

The United Nations marks 12 August every year as International Youth Day. The UN General Assembly endorsed the day in 1999, on the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth held in Lisbon in 1998, and it was first observed in 2000.

Q3112.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2023, GKEasy

Consider the following statements :

After forming the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose

1. recruited a large number of soldiers from the Indian Prisoners of War in Japanese camp

2. introduced a women's detachment named after the Rani of Jhansi

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: C. Both 1 and 2

The INA drew its soldiers largely from Indian prisoners of war held by Japan, and Bose created the Rani of Jhansi Regiment for women.

Q3115.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKEasy

A body floats in a liquid if the buoyant force is :

  1. A.equal to its weight.
  2. B.less than its weight.
  3. C.greater than its weight.
  4. D.zero.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. equal to its weight.

A floating body is in equilibrium, so the upward buoyant force exactly balances its weight. By Archimedes' principle, a body in a liquid is pushed up by a force equal to the weight of the liquid it displaces.

Q3116.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2025, GKEasy

Which of the following are the different parts of a human brain ?

  1. A.Forefront brain, Standard brain and Hind brain
  2. B.Fore brain, Median brain and Rear brain
  3. C.Fore brain, Mid brain and Hind brain
  4. D.Precursor brain, Mean brain and Hind brain
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Fore brain, Mid brain and Hind brain

These are the three main divisions of the human brain. The fore brain is the largest part.

Q3117.Computer AwarenessAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2026, GKMedium

Which of the following computer languages is/are assembly language(s) ?

1. Python

2. Java

3. x86

4. MIPS

Select the answer using the codes given below :

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

x86 and MIPS assembly are low-level languages written for particular processor families, while Python and Java are high-level languages. An assembly language uses short mnemonics such as MOV, ADD and JMP that stand directly for a processor's machine instructions, so each family of processors has its own.

Q3120.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Infrared, visible and ultraviolet radiations/light have different properties. Which one of the following statements related to these radiations/light is not correct?

  1. A.The wavelength of infrared is more than that of ultraviolet radiation.
  2. B.The wavelength of ultraviolet is smaller than that of visible light.
  3. C.The photon energy of visible light is more than that of infrared light.
  4. D.The photon energy of ultraviolet is lesser than that of visible light.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The photon energy of ultraviolet is lesser than that of visible light.

Ultraviolet photons carry more energy than visible light, not less, so this statement is wrong. The energy of a photon is E = hc/λ, so a shorter wavelength means higher energy.