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CDS Previous Year GK Questions

Previous-year questions are the most reliable guide to the CDS General Knowledge paper, because the syllabus in the notice is one paragraph long and the paper is not. UPSC uploads the question papers of every CDS on upsc.gov.in the day after the exam, so a full record of what was asked exists for each cycle. Reading them shows the weight of each area, the depth UPSC expects in Polity, History, Geography, Economy and Science, and the question forms it prefers: statements with "which of the above are correct", "how many of the following pairs are correctly matched", match the lists, and arrange in chronological order. Many topics return: writs and constitutional bodies, dynasties and reform movements, Ramsar sites and World Heritage sites, budget and balance-of-payments terms, and school science applied to everyday situations. This page collects CDS previous-year General Knowledge questions in English and Hindi, each with the correct answer, an explanation and the topic it belongs to, so that a question leads you to the GK note that covers it. Use them in three passes: untimed to learn, timed to build speed, and a week later to revisit your wrong answers.

Previous Year Questions

Q581.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2022, GKMedium

Consider the following statements about cavalry warfare in India : 1. The iron stirrup made it possible for the armoured warrior to sit firmly on a horse without falling off. 2. The iron stirrup also allowed a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider being thrown off by the shock of impact. Which of the statements 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: C. Both 1 and 2

The iron stirrup gave the rider a firm seat, and that firm seat made the lance charge possible, so both statements are correct.

Q582.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2023, GKEasy

Which of the following groups of planets is termed as 'gas planets' as they are composed primarily of lighter ices, liquids and gases?

  1. A.Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus
  2. B.Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn
  3. C.Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune
  4. D.Neptune, Saturn, Mars, Uranus
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn

These four outer planets are the gas planets, also called Jovian planets, made mostly of hydrogen, helium, ices and liquids rather than rock.

Q583.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2023, GKEasy

Which of the following statements about the Panchayats in India, as per the Constitution of India is/are correct ? 1. There is a provision for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 2. Panchayats are not authorised to collect taxes. 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: A. 1 only

The Constitution reserves seats in Panchayats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and it also lets Panchayats levy and collect taxes, so statement 2 is false.

Q584.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which of the following statements regarding insolation is/are correct? 1. Insolation is predominantly short-wave radiation, with wavelengths in the range of 0.39 micrometre to 0.76 micrometre. 2. Insolation is evenly distributed across the Earth because of the Earth's curved surface. 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: A. 1 only

Insolation, the incoming solar radiation, arrives mainly as short waves centred on visible light, but the Earth's curved surface spreads it unevenly, so statement 2 is false.

Q585.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKHard

Which of the following statements regarding Arc Volcanoes is/are correct ? 1. Arc volcanoes are found near divergent plate boundaries. 2. Some of the world's classical examples of cone-shaped stratovolcanoes, such as Mount Fuji in Japan, Mayon in the Philippines are Arc volcanoes. 3. Some of the highest volcanoes on Earth are of the Arc type, notably Nevado Ojos del Salado in the Chilean Andes. Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. A.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

Arc volcanoes form above subduction zones at convergent plate boundaries, not at divergent ones, so statement 1 is false while 2 and 3 are true.

Q586.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKEasy

Lactose is made up of :

  1. A.Glucose only
  2. B.Glucose and Fructose
  3. C.Glucose and Sucrose
  4. D.Glucose and Galactose
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Glucose and Galactose

Lactose, the sugar of milk, is a disaccharide formed when one molecule of glucose joins one molecule of galactose. Disaccharides are sugars made of two simple sugar units, or monosaccharides, linked by a glycosidic bond.

Q587.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2026, GKMedium

Which one among the following pairs of Articles of the Constitution of India and special provisions given therein is not correctly matched ?

  1. A.Article 371A : Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland
  2. B.Article 371B : Special provision with respect to the State of Assam
  3. C.Article 371C : Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur
  4. D.Article 371D : Special provision with respect to the State of Sikkim
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Article 371D : Special provision with respect to the State of Sikkim

Article 371D deals with Andhra Pradesh and now also Telangana; the special provision for Sikkim is Article 371F. Part XXI of the Constitution contains special provisions for several states in Articles 371 to 371J. Article 371D was added by the 32nd Amendment in 1973 to give the people of Andhra…

Q588.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKMedium

The stories of Shvetaketu and Nachiketa teach us the worth of

  1. A.Unquestioned obedience to Rishis
  2. B.Asking questions in pursuit of knowledge
  3. C.Lasting friendships in life
  4. D.Physical labour for healthy life
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Asking questions in pursuit of knowledge

Both Shvetaketu and Nachiketa are young seekers in the Upanishads whose stories show that knowledge is won by asking questions and refusing easy answers.

Q589.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKEasy

In total internal reflection, the light travels from

  1. A.rarer to denser medium and it occurs with no loss of intensity
  2. B.denser to rarer medium and it occurs with no loss of intensity
  3. C.rarer to denser medium and it occurs with loss of intensity
  4. D.denser to rarer medium and it occurs with loss of intensity
Show answer
Correct answer: B. denser to rarer medium and it occurs with no loss of intensity

Total internal reflection happens only when light inside a denser medium meets the boundary with a rarer one at an angle larger than the critical angle, and all of the light is reflected back.

Q591.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKMedium

South Arcot and Ramanathapuram receive over 50 percent of their annual rainfall from which one of the following?

  1. A.South-west monsoon
  2. B.North-east monsoon
  3. C.Bay of Bengal branch of summer monsoon
  4. D.Western disturbances
Show answer
Correct answer: B. North-east monsoon

South Arcot and Ramanathapuram lie on the Tamil Nadu coast, which gets most of its yearly rain from the retreating, or north-east, monsoon in October to December.

Q592.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2019, GKHard

Which one of the following hypotheses postulates that individual's consumption in any time period depends upon resources available to the individual, rate of return on his capital and age of the individual?

  1. A.Absolute Income Hypothesis
  2. B.Relative Income Hypothesis
  3. C.Life Cycle Hypothesis
  4. D.Permanent Income Hypothesis
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Life Cycle Hypothesis

Proposed by Franco Modigliani with Richard Brumberg and Albert Ando, it holds that a person plans consumption over a whole lifetime, using available resources, the return on wealth and age.

Q593.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2019, GKEasy

In graphite, each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms

  1. A.forming a three-dimensional structure
  2. B.in the same plane giving a hexagonal array
  3. C.in the same plane giving a square array
  4. D.in the same plane giving a pentagonal array
Show answer
Correct answer: B. in the same plane giving a hexagonal array

In graphite each carbon atom is joined to three others in a flat layer of hexagonal rings, like a honeycomb.

Q594.Awards & HonoursAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2020, GKMedium

The Global Goalkeeper Award is given by

  1. A.the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  2. B.the United Nations Environment Programme
  3. C.the Kellogg School of Management
  4. D.the World Meteorological Organization
Show answer
Correct answer: A. the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The Global Goalkeeper Award is one of the Goalkeepers awards the foundation gives to leaders who advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Q595.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GKEasy

Which of the following terms were added to the Preamble of the Constitution of India by the Constitutional Amendment, 1976? 1. Socialist 2. Secular 3. Integrity 4. Fraternity Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, added the words Socialist, Secular and Integrity to the Preamble. Passed during the Emergency under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the 42nd Amendment is often called the "mini-Constitution" because it changed so many provisions.

Q597.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2022, GKMedium

Consider the following pairs of vaccine and category/type : 1. Covaxin : Inactivated pathogen-based vaccine 2. Covishield : mRNA vaccine 3. Sputnik V : Viral vector-based vaccine Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

  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: C. 1 and 3 only

Covaxin is an inactivated virus vaccine and Sputnik V is a viral vector vaccine, but Covishield is a viral vector vaccine, not an mRNA vaccine.

Q600.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which of the following statements regarding the Industrial Revolution is/are correct? 1. It was change of a society from a rural and agricultural lifestyle to one in which most people earned their living in the industrial or secondary sector of the economy. 2. The first Industrial Revolution began in Germany in the early eighteenth century. 3. During Industrial Revolution, technological advances in iron smelting, and later steel production, were accompanied by the invention of steam engine. Select the correct answer using the code 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: C. 1 and 3 only

Statements 1 and 3 describe the Industrial Revolution correctly, but it began in Britain, not Germany. The Industrial Revolution turned largely rural, farming societies into urban ones where most people worked in factories, mines and workshops, which is what statement 1 says.

All Defence previous year questions