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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

Q3202.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following pairs:

Towns sometimes mentioned in news : Country

1. Aleppo - Syria

2. Kirkuk - Yemen

3. Mosul - Palestine

4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Aleppo is in Syria and Mazar-i-Sharif is in Afghanistan; Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq. Aleppo, in north-western Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and its old city with the citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q3203.Books & AuthorsAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

  1. A.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  2. B.Jawaharlal Nehru
  3. C.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

While held in Yerwada jail, Gandhi translated old Indian hymns and devotional lyrics into English, and these were published as 'Songs from Prison'.

Q3204.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:

1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.

2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.

3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.

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

Sputnik V uses adenovirus vectors and Covaxin uses killed (inactivated) virus; Covishield is not an mRNA vaccine. Covishield is the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by the Serum Institute.

Q3205.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?

  1. A.Devaraya I
  2. B.Mallikarjuna
  3. C.Vira Vijaya
  4. D.Virupaksha
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Devaraya I

He built a large dam on the Tungabhadra and a long canal-cum-aqueduct that brought its water to the capital, Vijayanagara.

Q3206.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements:

I. The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.

II. The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Article 163 speaks expressly of functions the Governor exercises in his or her discretion, but only the Governor can reserve a State bill for the President.

Q3207.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?

1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 - 1000 physical qubits.

2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  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 mission targets intermediate-scale quantum computers of 50 to 1000 physical qubits and is being carried out through four Thematic Hubs.

Q3208.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following pairs:

1. Radhakanta Deb — First President of the British Indian Association

2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty — Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha

3. Surendranath Banerjee — Founder of the Indian Association

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Radhakanta Deb headed the British Indian Association and Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian Association; pair 2 is wrong. The British Indian Association was formed in Calcutta in 1851 by the landed gentry of Bengal, with Raja Radhakanta Deb as its first president and Debendranath Tagore as secretary.

Q3209.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs:

Sea : Bordering country

1. Adriatic Sea : Albania

2. Black Sea : Croatia

3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan

4. Mediterranean Sea : Morocco

5. Red Sea : Syria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Albania lies on the Adriatic, Kazakhstan on the Caspian and Morocco on the Mediterranean. The Adriatic Sea separates Italy from the Balkan coast of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.

Q3210.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. A.The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
  2. B.The Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.
  3. C.The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
  4. D.Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

The All India Congress Committee passed it at its Bombay session on 8 August 1942. The meeting was held at Gowalia Tank Maidan, now called August Kranti Maidan, in Bombay.

Q3211.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics:

1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast.

2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut.

3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars.

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: C. 1 and 3

Probiotics include both bacteria and yeasts, and some of them help break down lactose, the sugar in milk. Probiotics are live microorganisms that give a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.

Q3212.Books & AuthorsAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:

Literary work : Author

1. Devichandragupta : Bilhana

2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri

3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna

4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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

Pairs 2 and 4 are right; pairs 1 and 3 name the wrong authors. The Hammira-Mahakavya, a Sanskrit poem on the Chauhan ruler Hammira of Ranthambore, was written by the Jain poet Nayachandra Suri in the fifteenth century.

Q3213.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct?

1. It is a part of the Human Genome Project.

2. The project is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

3. Its primary aim is to build a catalogue of genetic diversity of the Indian population.

Select the answer using the code given below:

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

GenomeIndia is India's own national programme, paid for by the Department of Biotechnology, and its goal is a reference catalogue of Indian genetic variation.

Q3215.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2019, Paper IEasy

If the equatorial plane of earth is NOT inclined to its orbit, then

  1. A.duration of the year would be longer
  2. B.summer would be warmer
  3. C.there would be no change of seasons
  4. D.winter would be longer
Show answer
Correct answer: C. there would be no change of seasons

Seasons happen only because the Earth's axis is tilted to the plane of its orbit. The Earth's equatorial plane is inclined at about 23.5 degrees to the plane of its orbit, so its axis makes an angle of about 66.5 degrees with that plane.

Q3216.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IEasy

PAHAL, an initiative to transfer the subsidy to direct bank account of the beneficiaries, is related to

  1. A.LPG consumers
  2. B.internet consumers
  3. C.farmers for fertilisers
  4. D.Central Government Employees for medical treatment
Show answer
Correct answer: A. LPG consumers

PAHAL is the direct benefit transfer scheme for subsidy on cooking gas (LPG). PAHAL stands for Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh, meaning direct transferred benefit.

Q3217.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2026, Paper IEasy

The brightness of a lightning event was seen at 19:06:17 hr, whereas the sound of the thunder in the same process was heard at 19:06:23 hr. If the speed of the sound is 320 metres per second, then which of the following is the distance in metres between the clouds that produced the lightning and the thunder, and the observer?

  1. A.1720
  2. B.1820
  3. C.1920
  4. D.2020
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1920

The thunder arrived 6 seconds after the flash, and sound covers 320 m every second, so the distance is 320 × 6 = 1920 m. Lightning and thunder are produced at the same moment.

Q3218.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IEasy

Which of the following diseases are caused by the consumption of water contaminated by mercury and nitrate ?

  1. A.Minamata disease and Osteoporosis
  2. B.Osteoporosis and Blue Baby Syndrome
  3. C.Minamata disease and Blue Baby Syndrome
  4. D.Osteoporosis and Minamata disease
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Minamata disease and Blue Baby Syndrome

Mercury in water causes Minamata disease, and excess nitrate causes blue baby syndrome.

Q3219.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2018, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements about town planning in British India in early 19th century is/are correct? 1. The funds for town improvement were also raised through public lotteries. 2. The threats of epidemics gave an impetus to town planning in the early decades of 19th century. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  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

In early nineteenth-century Calcutta, lotteries paid for town improvement, and the fear of disease pushed the British towards planning. After Lord Wellesley's Minute of 1803 on the need for town planning in Calcutta, many committees were set up to improve the city.