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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

Q4663.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2022, GATEasy

Which one of the following was composed by Harishena?

  1. A.Nashik Inscription of Gautami Balashri
  2. B.Prayaga Prashasti of Samudragupta
  3. C.Deopara Prashasti of Vijayasena
  4. D.Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Prayaga Prashasti of Samudragupta

Harishena was the court poet and minister of the Gupta ruler Samudragupta and wrote this praise-poem in his honour. The Prayaga Prashasti, also called the Allahabad Pillar Inscription, is in elegant Sanskrit and is engraved on the same pillar that carries an edict of Ashoka.

Q4664.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2023, GATEasy

The streaming of light beams coming from the Sun through trees is said to have suggested that light travels in straight line. The particles on the path of light beams are visible to us because

  1. A.dust particles in the air reflect light into our eyes
  2. B.dust particles in the air scatter light into our eyes
  3. C.dust particles in the air refract light into our eyes
  4. D.dust particles in the air polarize light into our eyes
Show answer
Correct answer: B. dust particles in the air scatter light into our eyes

A beam seen from the side is visible only because tiny particles send some of its light sideways. Light travelling in a straight line cannot enter our eyes unless something redirects it towards us.

Q4665.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2025, GATMedium

Which of the following main industry/ industries was/were developed in the second industrial revolution that took place after about 1850?

  1. A.Coal and iron
  2. B.Cotton spinning and weaving
  3. C.Chemical and electrical
  4. D.Steam engines
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Chemical and electrical

The second industrial revolution, from about 1850 to 1914, was driven by steel, chemicals, electricity and oil. The first industrial revolution began in Britain around 1760 and rested on cotton textiles, coal, iron and the steam engine.

Q4667.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2026, GATHard

A pendulum of length L oscillates with an angular amplitude of θ = 60° and time period T. Let T₀ = 2π√(L/g) be the time period for small angle of oscillations, where g is the acceleration due to gravity. If air resistance is negligibly small and the string remains straight, then which one of the following is correct?

  1. A.T will be slightly greater than T₀.
  2. B.T will be slightly smaller than T₀.
  3. C.T will be exactly equal to T₀.
  4. D.T will depend upon the mass of the bob.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. T will be slightly greater than T₀.

The formula T₀ = 2π√(L/g) holds only for small swings; at large amplitudes the period grows.

Q4668.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2026, GATMedium

A bicycle racing track is a level circular road of radius 10 m. Three cyclists P, Q and R with identical cycles are cycling on the track with speeds 2 m/s, 3 m/s and 5 m/s respectively. If the coefficient of friction between the tyres and the road is 0.1, then which cyclist will slip? (Take g = 10 m/s²)

  1. A.P only
  2. B.Q only
  3. C.R only
  4. D.All will slip
Show answer
Correct answer: C. R only

On a level curve, friction alone supplies the centripetal force, so a cyclist slips when the needed force exceeds the maximum friction.

Q4670.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2020, GKMedium

Which one of the following chemical reactions is not feasible?

  1. A.Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu
  2. B.Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu
  3. C.Cu + PbCl2 → CuCl2 + Pb
  4. D.Mg + CuSO4 → MgSO4 + Cu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Cu + PbCl2 → CuCl2 + Pb

Copper is less reactive than lead, so it cannot push lead out of its compound. In a displacement reaction, a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in its salt solution.

Q4674.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2022, GKMedium

Which types of vegetation will you find on the way as you travel from Bikaner to Konark by road by shortest distance ?

  1. A.Tropical thorny, Desert, Moist deciduous, Mangrove
  2. B.Desert, Tropical thorny, Moist deciduous, Mangrove
  3. C.Moist deciduous, Tropical thorny, Mangrove, Desert
  4. D.Desert, Tropical thorny, Mangrove, Moist deciduous
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Desert, Tropical thorny, Moist deciduous, Mangrove

The route runs from the dry west to the wet east coast, so the vegetation changes as rainfall rises. Bikaner lies in the Thar Desert of western Rajasthan, where rainfall is below about 25 cm and only desert plants such as khejri and cactus grow.

Q4675.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2023, GKMedium

A leaf was plucked from a plant on a sunny day and kept for 2 minutes in boiling water. It was subsequently immersed in boiling alcohol and treated with iodine solution. What will be the final colour of the leaf after the test?

  1. A.Colourless
  2. B.Green
  3. C.Blue
  4. D.White
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Blue

A leaf from a sunny day is full of starch made by photosynthesis, and iodine turns starch blue-black. This is the standard school test for starch in a leaf.

Q4677.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Consider the following statements regarding the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: 1. This programme is initiated by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 2. It aims to develop an inclusive society for persons with disabilities. 3. It has provisions of pension for persons with disabilities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign to make places, transport and information accessible; it is run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and has no pension component.

Q4679.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKMedium

Identify the Mineral on the basis of the following characteristics relating to it : I. It is usually a greenish crystal. II. It is often found in basaltic rocks. III. Magnesium, iron and silica are its major elements. Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. A.Amphibolite
  2. B.Feldspar
  3. C.Pyroxene
  4. D.Olivine
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Olivine

Olivine is a silicate of magnesium and iron that forms greenish crystals and is common in basalt. Olivine takes its name from its olive-green colour.

Q4680.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2025, GKEasy

Which one of the following features is correct about the 'First Past the Post System' of election ?

  1. A.A candidate who wins may not get the majority of votes
  2. B.More than one representative may be elected from one constituency
  3. C.Voters vote for the party, not the candidate
  4. D.Every party gets seats in the legislature in proportion to percentage of votes that it gets
Show answer
Correct answer: A. A candidate who wins may not get the majority of votes

Under First Past the Post, the candidate with the most votes wins, even if that is far less than half of all votes cast.