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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

Q1681.Indian PolityHard

Article 126 of the Constitution of India deals with which of the following?

  1. A.Appointment of ad hoc judges
  2. B.Appointment of an acting Chief Justice of India
  3. C.Sitting of retired judges in the Supreme Court
  4. D.Transfer of judges between High Courts
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Appointment of an acting Chief Justice of India

Article 126 provides that when the office of Chief Justice of India is vacant, or when the Chief Justice is by reason of absence or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office, the duties shall be performed by such one of the other judges of the Court as…

Q1683.Indian PolityMedium

Under the Constitution, the oath of office to the President of India is administered by whom?

  1. A.The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  2. B.The Vice-President of India
  3. C.The Chief Justice of India
  4. D.The Prime Minister of India
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Chief Justice of India

Article 60 lays down the form of oath for the President and provides that it is made in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, or in his absence the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court available.

Q1685.Indian PolityMedium

Who had the longest tenure as Chief Justice of India?

  1. A.Y. V. Chandrachud
  2. B.D. Y. Chandrachud
  3. C.A. N. Ray
  4. D.S. R. Das
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Y. V. Chandrachud

Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud was Chief Justice of India from 22 February 1978 to 11 July 1985, a tenure of about seven years and four months, by far the longest any holder of the office has had.

Q1687.Indian PolityEasy

The appointment of the Chief Justice of India and the other judges of the Supreme Court is provided for in which Article of the Constitution?

  1. A.Article 124
  2. B.Article 126
  3. C.Article 127
  4. D.Article 131
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Article 124

Article 124 establishes the Supreme Court of India and lays down that every judge of the Court, including the Chief Justice of India, is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal; Article 124(2) fixes the retirement age at sixty-five years and Article 124(4) prescribes the procedure…

Q1689.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements :

1. 'The National Programme for Organic Production' (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

2. 'The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority' (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.

3. Sikkim has become India's first fully organic State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

NPOP is run by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not Rural Development, while the statements about APEDA and Sikkim are correct.

Q1690.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following :

1. Birds

2. Dust blowing

3. Rain

4. Wind blowing

Which of the above spread plant diseases ?

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

Birds, blowing dust, rain and wind can all carry the agents of plant disease from one plant to another. Plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria and viruses cannot move on their own over long distances, so they depend on carriers.

Q1691.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism ?

  1. A.There is an independent judiciary in India.
  2. B.Powers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.
  3. C.The federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.
  4. D.It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.

Indian federation was not formed by States coming together under an agreement, which is why the Constitution calls India a 'Union of States'.

Q1692.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements :

1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights.

3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

The Forest Rights Act defines critical wildlife habitat, and the Baigas were the first community to receive habitat rights, but the Environment Ministry does not grant those rights.

Q1693.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government :

  1. A.An arrangement for minimizing the criticism against the Government whose responsibilities are complex and hard to carry out to the satisfaction of all.
  2. B.A mechanism for speeding up the activities of the Government whose responsibilities are increasing day by day.
  3. C.A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.
  4. D.A device for strengthening the hands of the head of the Government whose hold over the people is in a state of decline.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. A mechanism of parliamentary democracy for ensuring collective responsibility of the Government to the people.

The heart of Cabinet government is collective responsibility: the ministers stand or fall together before the elected House. Article 75(3) of the Constitution says the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and Article 164(2) says the same for State ministers and the Legislative Assembly.

Q1694.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. A.Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.
  2. B.Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.
  3. C.Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.
  4. D.Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.

The truth is the reverse: hepatitis B has a safe, effective vaccine, while hepatitis C has none. The hepatitis B vaccine has been in use since the 1980s and is given to newborns in India under the Universal Immunisation Programme, with the first dose soon after birth.

Q1696.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IEasy

What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?

  1. A.A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing
  2. B.A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients
  3. C.A gene that makes plants pest-resistant
  4. D.A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops
Show answer
Correct answer: A. A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing

Cas9 is the enzyme in the CRISPR-Cas9 system that cuts DNA at a chosen spot, which is why it is called molecular scissors.

Q1697.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India ?

1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour

2. Abolition of untouchability

3. Protection of the interests of minorities

4. Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

The Right against Exploitation is made up of Articles 23 and 24, which cover exactly items 1 and 4. Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar and other similar forms of forced labour, and Parliament has backed it with laws such as the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

Q1698.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements :

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.

2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.

3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

PSLV mainly carries Earth observation satellites to low orbits, GSLV was built for communication satellites, and the other two statements describe the rockets wrongly.

Q1699.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?

1. Genetic predisposition of some people

2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases

3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming

4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Drug resistance grows in microbes when antibiotics are misused, and both wrong doses and farm use of antibiotics are forms of misuse.

Q1700.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of the President's rule in a State ?

1. Dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly

2. Removal of the Council of Ministers in the State

3. Dissolution of the local bodies

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1 and 2 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

Under President's rule the State Council of Ministers must go, but the Assembly need not be dissolved and local bodies are not touched.