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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

Q1421.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2022, GKEasy

Which one of the following statements about starch and glycogen is correct ?

  1. A.Both starch and glycogen are found in plant cells.
  2. B.Both starch and glycogen are found in animal cells.
  3. C.Starch is present in plant cells and glycogen is present in animal cells.
  4. D.Both starch and glycogen are present in plant cells as well as animal cells.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Starch is present in plant cells and glycogen is present in animal cells.

Both are stored forms of glucose, but plants store it as starch and animals as glycogen. Starch and glycogen are polysaccharides, long chains of glucose units.

Q1422.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2022, GKEasy

Which one of the following statements is not correct with regard to genetically modified organisms?

  1. A.In this technique a gene from one organism is isolated and transferred to the cell of another organism.
  2. B.This technique has applications only in plants.
  3. C.Genes for insect resistance may spread from crop plants to wild plants.
  4. D.To produce a transgenic animal the novel genes are inserted at a very early stage of development.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. This technique has applications only in plants.

Genetic modification is used in plants, animals and microbes alike, so this statement is false. A genetically modified organism is one whose DNA has been changed, usually by taking a useful gene from one organism and putting it into another.

Q1423.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2022, GKMedium

Cl⁻ is not isoelectronic with

  1. A.K⁺
  2. B.Mg²⁺
  3. C.S²⁻
  4. D.P³⁻
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Mg²⁺

The chloride ion has 18 electrons, while the magnesium ion has only 10, so the two are not isoelectronic. Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons.

Q1424.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2023, GKMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to the reaction given below are correct? CaO(s) + H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂(aq) + Heat 1. Quicklime is used for white-washing of walls. 2. The solution of slaked lime is used for whitewashing of walls. 3. CaO reacts slowly with CO₂ in air to form a thin layer of CaCO₃ on walls. 4. Calcium hydroxide called 'slaked lime' is an inorganic compound. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Walls are whitewashed with a solution of slaked lime, calcium hydroxide, which is an inorganic compound; quicklime itself is not applied, and the shiny layer comes from Ca(OH)₂, not CaO.

Q1425.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2023, GKMedium

Which one of the following statements about the Shvetambara Sect of Jainism is not correct?

  1. A.It refers to monks, who wear white clothes.
  2. B.It refers to monks, who migrated to the south of Vindhyas in 4th century BCE.
  3. C.They recognized the existence canonical texts including the 12 Angas.
  4. D.They believed that women can also attain salvation.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. It refers to monks, who migrated to the south of Vindhyas in 4th century BCE.

The monks who went south were the followers of Bhadrabahu, who later became the Digambaras, not the Shvetambaras.

Q1426.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2023, GKEasy

Consider the following statements regarding burning of magnesium ribbon in air : 1. White powder of MgO is formed. 2. It is an example of combustion reaction. 3. Heat and light are produced. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  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: D. 1, 2 and 3

Magnesium ribbon burns in air with a dazzling white flame, giving off heat and light and leaving a white powder of magnesium oxide.

Q1428.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKHard

Political analysis involves both normative and empirical approaches. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the two approaches? 1. Knowledge acquired through the empirical approach is value-loaded. 2. Knowledge acquired through the normative approach is objectively neutral. 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 reverse the two approaches: empirical knowledge aims to be value-free, while normative knowledge is value-loaded. The empirical approach studies politics as it is.

Q1429.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which one of the following correctly describes the principle of the working of an atomic clock?

  1. A.Vibration of a small quartz crystal
  2. B.Simple harmonic motion of atoms inside a crystal
  3. C.Resonant frequency in cesium (or rubidium) atom
  4. D.Excitation and de-excitation of hydrogen atoms
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Resonant frequency in cesium (or rubidium) atom

An atomic clock keeps time by locking onto the fixed frequency of radiation that makes atoms such as cesium-133 or rubidium jump between two energy levels.

Q1431.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2025, GKMedium

Van de Graaff generator generates :

  1. A.electrostatic charge
  2. B.magnetic field
  3. C.high voltage low alternating current
  4. D.high voltage low direct current
Show answer
Correct answer: A. electrostatic charge

A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic machine that builds up a very large static charge on a hollow metal sphere, raising it to millions of volts.

Q1432.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKMedium

Which of the following statements with reference to Jordan is/are correct ? 1. The country of Jordan was created through the British Mandate after World War I. 2. It is a landlocked country. Select the 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

Jordan grew out of the British Mandate after the First World War, but it is not landlocked because it touches the Gulf of Aqaba.

Q1433.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2025, GKEasy

Twinkling of a star is due to :

  1. A.Interference of light
  2. B.Refraction of light
  3. C.Polarization of light
  4. D.Diffraction of light
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Refraction of light

Starlight is bent again and again by layers of air of changing density, so its path and brightness keep shifting and the star seems to twinkle.

Q1434.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2026, GKMedium

An object is placed at a distance of 15 cm in front of a concave mirror with a radius of curvature of 20 cm. Which one among the following statements is correct for the image formed?

  1. A.The image is 30 cm from the mirror on the same side as the object.
  2. B.The image is formed at a distance of 30 cm behind the mirror.
  3. C.The image is 60 cm from the mirror on the same side as the object.
  4. D.The image is formed at a distance of 60 cm behind the mirror.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. The image is 30 cm from the mirror on the same side as the object.

The focal length is 10 cm, and an object between F and C of a concave mirror gives a real image beyond C, in front of the mirror.

Q1435.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2026, GKMedium

An X-ray beam can be deflected by :

  1. A.An electric field
  2. B.A magnetic field
  3. C.An electric as well as a magnetic field
  4. D.Neither an electric field nor a magnetic field
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Neither an electric field nor a magnetic field

X-rays are electromagnetic waves made of photons, which carry no electric charge, so electric and magnetic fields cannot bend them.

Q1436.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKHard

Which one of the following statements related to below mentioned Committees of the Parliament is correct?

  1. A.The Rajya Sabha elects more members than the Lok Sabha to the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  2. B.The Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  3. C.Members nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are more in number than Members nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on the Committee on Empowerment of Women
  4. D.The Rajya Sabha elects more members than the Lok Sabha to the Public Accounts Committee
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

The Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes is a joint committee whose Chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members.

Q1437.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2019, GKMedium

Arrange the following in the chronological order of their implementation: 1. The Indian Factory Act (First) 2. The Vernacular Press Act 3. The Morley-Minto Reforms 4. The Cornwallis Code Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

The order is the Cornwallis Code (1793), the Vernacular Press Act (1878), the first Indian Factory Act (1881) and the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909).

Q1440.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2021, GKEasy

In the human body, blood flows through a process of double circulation. Which one of the following statements is true in this regard?

  1. A.Oxygenated blood reaches the left side of the heart from the lungs.
  2. B.Blood in the left side of the heart is poor in oxygen and is brought to the right side of the heart.
  3. C.Deoxygenated blood from the left side of the heart is brought to the lungs for oxygenation.
  4. D.Oxygenated blood from the right side of the heart is sent around the body.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Oxygenated blood reaches the left side of the heart from the lungs.

The pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs into the left atrium. In double circulation, blood passes through the heart twice in each full round.

All Defence previous year questions