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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

Q1101.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

In the gamma decay of a nucleus

  1. A.the mass number of the nucleus changes whereas its atomic number does not change
  2. B.the mass number of the nucleus does not change whereas its atomic number changes
  3. C.both the mass number and the atomic number of the nucleus change
  4. D.neither the mass number nor the atomic number of the nucleus changes
Show answer
Correct answer: D. neither the mass number nor the atomic number of the nucleus changes

A gamma ray is a photon of energy with no mass and no charge, so emitting it leaves the count of protons and neutrons unchanged.

Q1105.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKHard

Which one of the following is the correct ascending sequence of States in terms of their population density as per Census 2011?

  1. A.Arunachal Pradesh—Sikkim—Mizoram—Himachal Pradesh
  2. B.Arunachal Pradesh—Mizoram—Sikkim—Himachal Pradesh
  3. C.Mizoram—Arunachal Pradesh—Himachal Pradesh—Sikkim
  4. D.Arunachal Pradesh—Himachal Pradesh—Sikkim—Mizoram
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Arunachal Pradesh—Mizoram—Sikkim—Himachal Pradesh

Census 2011 put their densities at about 17, 52, 86 and 123 persons per square kilometre, in that order. Arunachal Pradesh, with steep, forested mountains and a small population spread over a large area, has the lowest population density of any Indian state at 17 persons per sq km.

Q1108.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GKEasy

A market, in which there are a large number of firms, homogeneous product, infinite elasticity of demand for an individual firm and no control over price by firms, is termed as

  1. A.oligopoly
  2. B.imperfect competition
  3. C.monopolistic competition
  4. D.perfect competition
Show answer
Correct answer: D. perfect competition

Many sellers of an identical product, none of whom can change the price, is the definition of a perfectly competitive market.

Q1109.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2021, GKMedium

Which one of the following approaches of human development was initially proposed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and emphasised on health, education, food, water supply, sanitation and housing?

  1. A.Welfare approach
  2. B.Basic needs approach
  3. C.Income approach
  4. D.Capability approach
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Basic needs approach

The International Labour Organisation put it forward in the 1970s, asking that every person first have the essentials of a decent life.

Q1110.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2021, GKHard

Who among the following was not a Jain Acharya ?

  1. A.Bhadrabahu
  2. B.Khema
  3. C.Haribhadra
  4. D.Siddhasena Divakara
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Khema

Khema was a Buddhist nun, not a Jain teacher; the other three are well-known Jain acharyas. Khema was a queen of King Bimbisara of Magadha who became a disciple of the Buddha and joined the order of nuns.

Q1114.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2023, GKMedium

Water goes up through xylem vessels in tall trees. The process in plants and properties of water that help in upward movement are :

  1. A.Respiration and cohesion
  2. B.Transpiration pull, cohesion and adhesion
  3. C.Root pressure, cohesion and adhesion
  4. D.Transpiration and adhesion
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Transpiration pull, cohesion and adhesion

Evaporation from the leaves pulls a continuous column of water up the xylem, and cohesion and adhesion keep that column from breaking.

Q1115.Environment & EcologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which one of the following is related to global dimming?

  1. A.Fall of atmospheric pressure due to increased particulates
  2. B.Rise of atmospheric pressure due to increased particulates
  3. C.Rise of temperature due to increased particulates
  4. D.Fall of temperature due to increased particulates
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Fall of temperature due to increased particulates

Global dimming is the drop in sunlight reaching the ground, and the cooling that follows, caused by particles in the air.

Q1116.Books & AuthorsAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKHard

Who among the following stated that 'A just society is that society in which ascending sense of reverence and descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society' ?

  1. A.Vinoba Bhave
  2. B.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
  3. C.Rammanohar Lohia
  4. D.Jayaprakash Narayan
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

The words 'ascending sense of reverence and descending sense of contempt' are Ambedkar's own description of how the caste order works.

Q1118.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2025, GKHard

With reference to the Revolt of 1857, consider the following statements: 1. Shah Mal mobilised the people of Baraut region of Uttar Pradesh and captured the bungalow of an Englishman and converted it into a "hall of justice". 2. Gonoo was a Kol leader of the Singhbhum region of Chotanagpur. 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

Both men were local leaders of 1857, one among the peasants of western Uttar Pradesh and the other among the tribals of Chotanagpur.

All Defence previous year questions