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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

Q1541.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2022, GATEasy

In a group discussion on shape and size of the Earth, three students stated the following points : 1. Student 1 : The shape of the Earth is basically an oblate spheroid. 2. Student 2 : The polar diameter of the Earth is more than the equatorial diameter. 3. Student 3 : Bulge along the equatorial region is due to revolution of the Earth. Who among the above students is/are correct?

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

The Earth is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator, but the bulge comes from its rotation, and its polar diameter is the shorter one.

Q1543.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2023, GATMedium

What will happen if a collection of positive and negative charges are passed at a high speed through a magnetic field which is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the charges ? (Assume that both kind of charges are NOT going to recombine)

  1. A.Both kind of charges will stop moving
  2. B.Positive charges and negative charges will separate out
  3. C.Positive charges will stop but negative charges will continue moving uninterrupted
  4. D.Both kind of charges will keep moving uninterrupted
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Positive charges and negative charges will separate out

A magnetic field pushes a moving charge sideways, and the push on a negative charge is opposite to that on a positive one, so the two kinds bend away from each other.

Q1544.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2024, GATHard

Identify the sea-port in India on the basis of the given characteristics : 1. It is more than a century old port on the west coast of India. 2. It is a natural harbour protected by a breakwater and also by a mole. 3. A deep draft channel of about 14 metres depth permits large vessels to enter the harbour. Select the correct sea-port from the options given below :

  1. A.Mormugao Port
  2. B.Deendayal Port
  3. C.Cochin Port
  4. D.Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Mormugao Port

Mormugao in Goa, a natural harbour at the mouth of the Zuari estuary, was opened in the late nineteenth century and is sheltered by a breakwater-cum-mole, which fits every clue.

Q1549.Indian PolityAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2017, GATHard

By fulfilling which of the following conditions can a political party claim the status of a national party ? 1. It secures at least six per cent (6%) of the valid votes polled in any four or more states, at a general election to the House of the People or, to the State Legislative Assembly 2. It wins at least four seats in the House of the People from any State or States or wins at least two per cent (2%) seats in the House of the People (i.e., 11 seats in the existing House having 543 members), and these members are elected from at least three different States 3. The party in question has got recognition as a state party in at least two states 4. It must have its headquarters in New Delhi Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 sets the conditions in statements 1 and 2, while statements 3 and 4 misstate or invent conditions.

Q1551.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2018, GATMedium

Which one of the following statements about the refractive index of a material medium with respect to air is correct?

  1. A.It can be either positive or negative
  2. B.It can have zero value
  3. C.It is unity for all materials
  4. D.It is always greater than one
Show answer
Correct answer: D. It is always greater than one

Light travels fastest in vacuum and almost as fast in air, so in any material medium it moves more slowly than in air, and the ratio of the two speeds is greater than one.

Q1554.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2019, GATMedium

Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition in Karnataka : 1. The Virashaiva movement was led by a Brahmana named Basavanna, a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler in the twelfth century. 2. The Virashaivas encouraged practices, approved by the Dharmashastras, like post-puberty marriages and remarriage of widows. Which of the statement/s 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: A. 1 only

Basavanna did lead the Virashaiva movement, but the Virashaivas encouraged post-puberty marriage and widow remarriage precisely because the Dharmashastras disapproved of them.

Q1555.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2020, GATHard

For an area to be excluded from the drought-prone category, what percentage of its gross cropped area should be under irrigation?

  1. A.10 per cent or more
  2. B.20 per cent or more
  3. C.25 per cent or more
  4. D.30 per cent or more
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 30 per cent or more

The Irrigation Commission of 1972 treated an area as drought-prone when less than 30 per cent of its gross cropped area was irrigated, so an area with 30 per cent or more is left out.

Q1557.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2021, GATMedium

Which one of the following statements about the process of photosynthesis is correct ?

  1. A.Chemical energy is converted into light energy.
  2. B.Carbon dioxide is oxidised to form carbohydrate.
  3. C.Water molecule splits into hydrogen and oxygen.
  4. D.Light energy is directly used to split water.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Water molecule splits into hydrogen and oxygen.

In the light reaction of photosynthesis, water is broken up; its hydrogen is used to make food and its oxygen is given out.

Q1558.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2022, GATMedium

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, which of the following is/are the feature/features of cloudburst? 1. Heavy precipitation in short period of time in a limited geographical area 2. It occurs generally during monsoon period and triggers flash flood and landslides 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

A cloudburst is very heavy rain over a small area in a short time, and in India it mostly strikes in the monsoon, setting off flash floods and landslides.

Q1560.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2023, GATEasy

Which among the following is the popular method for manufacture of ammonia ?

  1. A.Ostwald's process
  2. B.Haber-Bosch process
  3. C.Electric furnace process
  4. D.Electrolysis process
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Haber-Bosch process

Almost all the world's ammonia is made by combining nitrogen and hydrogen directly in this process. In the Haber-Bosch process, nitrogen from the air and hydrogen, usually obtained from natural gas, are made to react in the ratio 1 to 3.