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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

Q161.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2017, GKEasy

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first two indigenously designed and manufactured light combat aircrafts to the Indian Air Force in 2016. What is the name of these new combat aircrafts?

  1. A.Marut
  2. B.Garud
  3. C.Tejas
  4. D.Pushpak
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Tejas

Tejas is India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, and the first two were handed over to the Indian Air Force on 1 July 2016 to form No. 45 Squadron, the Flying Daggers.

Q162.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements about Bitcoin is/are correct? 1. It is a decentralized virtual currency. 2. It is generated through complex computer software systems. 3. The Reserve Bank of India recognized it as a legal tender in January 2016. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency created by computer software, but the Reserve Bank of India has never made it legal tender.

Q163.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKHard

Consider the following statements about the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes under the provisions of the Constitution of India : 1. State can make any special provision relating to their admission to the Government educational institutions. 2. State can make any special provision relating to their admission to the private educational institutions aided by the State. 3. State can make any special provision relating to their admission to the private educational institutions not aided by the State. 4. State can make any special provision relating to their admission to the minority educational institutions as described in Article 30. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Article 15(5) lets the State make special provisions for the admission of SCs and STs to educational institutions, including private ones whether aided or not, but it expressly leaves out minority institutions under Article 30(1).

Q165.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

Which one of the following statements is not correct with respect to protection of individuals being tried for offences?

  1. A.A confession can never be used as evidence against the accused.
  2. B.The accused must have violated an existing law.
  3. C.An accused cannot be tried and punished for the same offence again.
  4. D.The quantum of punishment must be provided in law as it existed on the date of commission of an offence.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. A confession can never be used as evidence against the accused.

Article 20(3) only bars compelling an accused to be a witness against himself; a confession made freely and lawfully can still be used as evidence.

Q166.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKEasy

The President of India is elected by an Electoral College comprising of elected members of which of the following? 1. Both the Houses of the Parliament 2. The Legislative Assemblies of States 3. The Legislative Councils of States 4. The Legislative Assemblies of NCT of Delhi and Puducherry Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Under Article 54, the President is elected by the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies and, since the 70th Amendment, the elected members of the Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry.

Q168.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKEasy

A citizen of India will lose his or her citizenship if he or she 1. renounces Indian citizenship 2. voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country 3. marries a citizen of another country 4. criticizes the Government Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Under the Citizenship Act, 1955, an Indian loses citizenship by renouncing it or by voluntarily taking the citizenship of another country; marriage and criticism of the government have no such effect.

Q169.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Directive Principles of State Policy are meant for promoting social and economic democracy in India. 2. The Fundamental Rights enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India are ordinarily subject to reasonable restrictions. 3. Secularism is one of the basic features of Constitution of any country. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Statements 1 and 2 describe the Indian Constitution correctly, but statement 3 wrongly claims that every country's constitution is secular.

Q170.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKHard

The important source for Akbar's reign, Tarikh-i-Akbari was written by which one of the following Persian language scholars?

  1. A.Arif Qandahari
  2. B.Bayazid Bayat
  3. C.Abdul Qadir Badauni
  4. D.Nizamuddin Ahmad
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Arif Qandahari

Haji Muhammad Arif Qandahari, a noble who served under Bairam Khan and later Akbar, wrote the Persian chronicle Tarikh-i-Akbari. Akbar's reign is one of the best recorded in Indian history because many writers of his court left Persian accounts.

Q172.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKEasy

A Joint Sitting of the Parliament is resorted to, for resolving the deadlock between two Houses of the Parliament for passing which of the following Bills? 1. Money Bill 2. Constitutional Amendment Bill 3. Ordinary Bill Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

A joint sitting under Article 108 can be called only for an ordinary bill; it is not available for a Money Bill or a Constitutional Amendment Bill.

Q173.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2018, GKEasy

Which one of the following is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms?

  1. A.Astra
  2. B.Akash
  3. C.Nirbhay
  4. D.Shankhnaad
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Nirbhay

Nirbhay is the long-range subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the DRDO. Nirbhay was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.

Q174.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKMedium

The class of Amar Nayakas in Vijayanagara is a reference to which of the following?

  1. A.Village Chieftains
  2. B.Senior Civil Servants
  3. C.Tributary Chiefs
  4. D.Military Commanders
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Military Commanders

The amara-nayakas were military commanders to whom the Vijayanagara rulers gave territories to govern. Under the amara-nayaka system, a key political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire, the king granted a commander an area of land called amaram.

Q175.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

Which of the following fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India belong only to the citizens? 1. Article 19 (Protection of right to freedom of speech) 2. Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty) 3. Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination) 4. Article 16 (Equality of opportunity) Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Articles 15, 16 and 19 are available only to citizens of India, while Article 21 protects every person, including foreigners.

Q176.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2017, GKEasy

TRIPS Agreement pertains to

  1. A.international tariff regime
  2. B.intellectual property protection
  3. C.international practices on trade facilitation
  4. D.international taxation of property
Show answer
Correct answer: B. intellectual property protection

TRIPS stands for the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. TRIPS was negotiated in the Uruguay Round and came into force with the World Trade Organization on 1 January 1995, binding every WTO member.

Q177.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKEasy

The Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the Constitution of India can be suspended only by

  1. A.a proclamation of National Emergency
  2. B.an Act passed by the Parliament
  3. C.an amendment to the Constitution of India
  4. D.the judicial decisions of the Supreme Court
Show answer
Correct answer: A. a proclamation of National Emergency

Only during a National Emergency under Article 352 can the enforcement of Fundamental Rights be suspended. When a National Emergency is proclaimed, Article 358 automatically suspends the freedoms of Article 19, but only when the emergency is declared on the ground of war or external aggression, not armed rebellion.

Q179.Sports GKAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GKEasy

Who among the following has won the Singles Title in Wimbledon Tennis Championship (Women) in the year 2019?

  1. A.Karolina Pliskova
  2. B.Simona Halep
  3. C.Serena Williams
  4. D.Naomi Osaka
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Simona Halep

Halep of Romania won the 2019 Wimbledon women's singles title by beating Serena Williams in the final. Halep won the final 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes, one of the most one-sided Wimbledon finals of recent times.

All Defence previous year questions