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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

Q5541.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 PMedium

Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813': 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China. 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company. 3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament. 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: A. 1 and 2 only

The Act of 1813 broke the Company's trade monopoly and asserted the Crown's sovereignty, but left the revenues where they were, so the first two statements stand and the third does not.

Q5542.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2012 PMedium

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? 1. Right of healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21 2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1) 3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A) Select the correct answer using the codes 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: A. 1 only

The National Green Tribunal Act rests on the right to a healthy environment read into the right to life, so only the first provision is in point.

Q5543.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Medium

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

  1. A.peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters
  2. B.its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions
  3. C.national leaders' opposition to the cultivation of indigo
  4. D.Government control over the planters
Show answer
Correct answer: B. its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions

Indigo lost its market when chemists learned to make the dye in a factory, so the Indian crop became unprofitable and cultivation shrank.

Q5544.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 PHard

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection. 2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. 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: D. Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements describe the two offices wrongly, so neither can be accepted.

Q5545.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 10 Oct 2021Medium

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

  1. A.Annie Besant
  2. B.Debendranath Tagore
  3. C.Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Vidyasagar served as the secretary of the Hindu Female School, and the school was renamed after John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, who had founded it in Calcutta in 1849.

Q5546.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Hard

Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

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

Mahendravarman I came first, Gopala next, then Bhoja and finally Parantaka I, which is exactly this order. Mahendravarman I ruled the Pallavas of Kanchi in the early seventh century and is remembered for the rock-cut temples at Mandagapattu and for his play Mattavilasa Prahasana.

Q5548.DefenceMedium

What made the Tangdhar phase of Operation Drishti in September 2026 a first of its kind?

  1. A.It was the first eye camp run entirely by robotic surgery
  2. B.It was the first mega eye surgical camp held at the Line of Control, in an underground operation theatre
  3. C.It was the first camp conducted jointly with a foreign medical team
  4. D.It was the first camp held aboard a naval hospital ship
Show answer
Correct answer: B. It was the first mega eye surgical camp held at the Line of Control, in an underground operation theatre

Tangdhar lies in a sensitive sector along the Line of Control, and taking cataract, glaucoma and retinal surgery there meant working below ground, where 220 operations were completed over two days.

Q5550.DefenceMedium

What was the centenary theme of the Military Nursing Service?

  1. A.Service Before Self, Always and Everywhere
  2. B.Compassion in Uniform, Courage at Heart
  3. C.Honouring the Past, Healing the Present and Inspiring the Future
  4. D.A Century of Care for the Nation
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Honouring the Past, Healing the Present and Inspiring the Future

The centenary events were conducted in keeping with this theme and reaffirmed the service's values of compassion, professional excellence and service to the nation.

Q5553.DefenceHard

MAHASAGAR, the vision under which AIME-2026 is being conducted, stands for which of the following?

  1. A.Maritime Alliance for Harbour Access, Security and Growth Around Regions
  2. B.Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions
  3. C.Maritime Assistance and Humanitarian Action for Sea Going Allied Regions
  4. D.Mission for Advancement of Harbours, Shipping and Growth Across Regions
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions

The Ministry of Defence stated that AIME-2026 is being conducted in furtherance of India's Act East Policy and of the MAHASAGAR vision, and gave this expansion of the acronym.

Q5554.DefenceMedium

Which two Indian Navy ships are participating in AIME-2026?

  1. A.INS Vikrant and INS Delhi
  2. B.INS Shivalik and INS Kadmatt
  3. C.INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
  4. D.INS Kolkata and INS Trikand
Show answer
Correct answer: C. INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish

The Ministry of Defence named these two ships as India's participants in the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise at Subic Bay, and described their presence as a mark of the Indian Navy's continuing commitment to maritime partnerships with ASEAN.

Q5555.DefenceMedium

What is the theme of AIME-2026?

  1. A.Anchored in Trust, United at Sea
  2. B.Partners Across the Indo-Pacific
  3. C.Secure Seas, Shared Future
  4. D.One Ocean, One Mission
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Anchored in Trust, United at Sea

This is the theme under which the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise is being conducted, and it frames the stated aim of the drill, which is to build mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Indian Navy and ASEAN maritime forces.