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Defence GK Questions 2026

Static GK carries most of the General Knowledge marks in the defence exams, and science carries the largest share of it. In NDA & NA, Physics, Chemistry and General Science are about half of the 400 marks of Part B, and History, the freedom movement and Geography are about 20% each, as per the notice. In the CDS (II) 2026 General Knowledge paper, GK24 counted about 37 science questions, about 20 each on Polity and History, about 15 on Geography and environment and about 10 on the Economy; this count is guidance, not an official break-up. The Army's Agniveer CEE gives 15 of its 50 General Duty questions to General Knowledge and 15 to General Science, which covers cells, the human body, plants and animals and common epidemics. Its GK list names history, culture and geography of India and its neighbours, the Constitution, inventions and discoveries, books and authors, and the Indian Armed Forces. This page holds GK24's topic-wise GK notes and GK questions tagged for NDA, CDS and Agniveer, in English and Hindi: General Science, Indian History, Art and Culture, Indian Polity, Geography, Indian Economy and Static GK. Read one topic at a sitting, then solve its questions and the previous-year questions of your exam to see what stayed with you.

Defence GK Questions with Answers

Q1961.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2024, GATMedium

Consider the following facts of the rivers of the Indus system : 1. The Satluj originates in Tibet where it is known as Langchen Khambab 2. The Satluj is a classic example of an antecedent river 3. The Jhelum is the largest tributary of the Indus System Select the answer using the code given below:

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

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is wrong. The Satluj rises in the Rakas Tal near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, at about 4,555 m, and is known there as Langchen Khambab.

Q1964.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2026, GATMedium

Consider the following statements regarding the Earth's crust : I. The continental crust is thinner under fold mountains. II. The mean thickness of ocean crust is 30 km. III. The Earth's crust is brittle in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Only the third statement is right: the crust is the outermost solid shell of the Earth and it is brittle in nature, which is why it cracks and faults during earthquakes.

Q1965.General ScienceAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2026, GATEasy

Which one of the following is not a characteristic of an insect-pollinated plant?

  1. A.Brightly coloured and fragrant flowers
  2. B.Light and small pollen grains
  3. C.Sticky and/or spiny pollen grains
  4. D.Presence of nectar in a flower
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Light and small pollen grains

Light, small and dry pollen is a feature of wind-pollinated plants, not of plants that depend on insects. Insect-pollinated (entomophilous) flowers have to attract a visitor and then make the pollen travel on its body.

Q1966.SportsHard

Himanshu Nandal's bronze medal at the Asian Para Games came in which event?

  1. A.Men's 100m Freestyle S11, swimming
  2. B.Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1, shooting
  3. C.Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5, badminton
  4. D.Men's Club Throw F51, athletics
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Men's 100m Freestyle S11, swimming

Himanshu Nandal finished third in this race, and the Prime Minister pointed out that it was the third bronze medal to his name at this edition of the Games, calling it an impressive performance.

Q1967.SportsMedium

Which pair won the Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 para badminton gold medal for India at the Asian Para Games?

  1. A.Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi
  2. B.Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan
  3. C.Manasi Joshi and Mona Agarwal
  4. D.Thulasimathi Murugesan and Himanshu Nandal
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi

The duo became Asian Para Games champions in the Women’s Doubles SL3-SU5 class, and the Prime Minister said their superb performance had brought great pride to the nation and hoped they would continue to shine on the international stage.

Q1970.Computer AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IEasy

Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as 'General Data Protection Regulation' in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?

  1. A.Australia
  2. B.Canada
  3. C.The European Union
  4. D.The United States of America
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The European Union

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union's data protection law, adopted in April 2016 and applied from 25 May 2018.

Q1971.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

  1. A.fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
  2. B.an early human species
  3. C.a cave system found in North-East India
  4. D.a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent
Show answer
Correct answer: B. an early human species

Denisovans were an archaic group of humans, close relatives of the Neanderthals, first identified in 2010 from a finger bone found in Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.

Q1972.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.

2. Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics.

3. Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Metal-oxide nanoparticles are used in cosmetics and some nanoparticles released into the environment can harm people, but nanoparticles are not made only by humans.

Q1973.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IEasy

Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?

  1. A.They protect the body from environmental allergens.
  2. B.They alleviate the body's pain and inflammation.
  3. C.They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
  4. D.They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.

B cells and T cells are lymphocytes, the white blood cells of the adaptive immune system that recognise and fight specific bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Q1974.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

"3D printing" has applications in which of the following?

1. Preparation of confectionery items

2. Manufacture of bionic ears

3. Automotive industry

4. Reconstructive surgeries

5. Data processing technologies

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. A.1, 3 and 4 only
  2. B.2, 3 and 5 only
  3. C.1 and 4 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, builds objects layer by layer from a digital design, and it is used in all five fields listed.

Q1975.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

What is the purpose of 'evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)' project ?

  1. A.To detect neutrinos
  2. B.To detect gravitational waves
  3. C.To detect the effectiveness of missile defence system
  4. D.To study the effect of solar flares on our communication systems
Show answer
Correct answer: B. To detect gravitational waves

eLISA is a planned space observatory of the European Space Agency that will use laser interferometry between spacecraft to catch gravitational waves.

Q1976.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply ?

  1. A.It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
  2. B.It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection; and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
  3. C.It is endemic to a particular region of India.
  4. D.Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.

Schedule I lists the animals that get the highest level of legal protection in India, and the tiger is one of them.

Q1977.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

"Momentum for Change : Climate Neutral Now" is an initiative launched by

  1. A.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  2. B.The UNEP Secretariat
  3. C.The UNFCCC Secretariat
  4. D.The World Meteorological Organization
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The UNFCCC Secretariat

Both 'Momentum for Change' and 'Climate Neutral Now' are initiatives of the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, based in Bonn.

Q1978.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements :

1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters.

2. More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines.

3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

All three statements about coral reefs are correct. Reef-building corals need warm, clear, shallow water, roughly between 20 °C and 30 °C, so almost all reefs lie in the tropics between about 30° N and 30° S. Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines together hold well over a third of the…

Q1979.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.

2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

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: B. 2 only

The Sustainable Development Goals are to be met by 2030, but they were not proposed by the Club of Rome in 1972.

Q1980.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs :

Regions sometimes mentioned in news — Country

1. Catalonia — Spain

2. Crimea — Hungary

3. Mindanao — Philippines

4. Oromia — Nigeria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

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

Catalonia is in Spain and Mindanao is in the Philippines, but Crimea and Oromia are paired with the wrong countries.

GK Questions for sub-exams