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UPSC CAPF Previous Year GK Questions

Previous-year questions are the most reliable guide to UPSC CAPF, because the notice lists six broad areas for Paper-I but does not say how many questions each will carry. Solving the papers of recent years shows the balance between current events and static GK, the level of detail UPSC expects in polity, history, geography, economy and science, and how often questions touch security, defence and human rights, areas the syllabus names in both papers. The Commission puts up the question papers of each exam on its website; the 2026 papers of General Ability and Intelligence and of General Studies, Essay and Comprehension went up on 20 July 2026, the day after the exam. This page is where GK24 collects UPSC CAPF previous-year questions of Paper-I, in English and Hindi, each with the correct answer, an explanation and the topic it belongs to, so that one question leads you to the GK note that covers it. Use them in three rounds: first untimed to learn the pattern, then timed to build speed under negative marking, and finally as a revision of the questions you got wrong. For Paper-II, read the past essay, argument and report topics. They show the kind of issues UPSC sets, such as security, governance, technology and society, and make a good list to practise writing on.

Previous Year Questions

Q182.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IEasy

Which one of the following is the chemical name of heavy water?

  1. A.Hydrogen oxide
  2. B.Deuterium dioxide
  3. C.Deuterium oxide
  4. D.Heavy hydrogen oxide
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Deuterium oxide

Heavy water is D₂O: two atoms of deuterium joined to one atom of oxygen. Deuterium is the isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in its nucleus, so it is about twice as heavy as ordinary hydrogen.

Q183.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2019, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following does NOT fall under the definition of the Money Bill ?

  1. A.Amendment of law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken by the Government of India
  2. B.The payment of money into the Consolidated Fund of India
  3. C.Any financial bill as per requirements of Article 117
  4. D.Appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Any financial bill as per requirements of Article 117

Article 117 deals with financial bills, which are a separate class and are not Money Bills under Article 110.

Q184.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statement(s) regarding passing a law under the State List is/are correct ?

1. Even in the sphere (State List) exclusively reserved for the States, Parliament can legislate under certain circumstances.

2. Parliament cannot legislate a subject under the State List under any circumstances.

3. A resolution supported by two-thirds of the members present and voting is required to be passed by Rajya Sabha to pass a law under the State List.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Parliament can make laws on State List subjects in certain situations, and one of them is a Rajya Sabha resolution passed by a two-thirds majority.

Q185.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IEasy

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

1. Permanent Settlement : Lord Cornwallis

2. Ryotwari Settlement : Thomas Munro

3. Mahalwari Settlement : Holt Mackenzie

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: D. 1, 2 and 3

Each of the three British land revenue systems is matched with the official most closely linked to it. The Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha in 1793.

Q186.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper IMedium

Under which one among the following Articles of the Constitution of India, a member of a Civil Service, whether of the Union or of a State, seeks protection from unlawful dismissal from service ?

  1. A.Article 309
  2. B.Article 311
  3. C.Article 315
  4. D.Article 320
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Article 311

Article 311 protects civil servants of the Union and the states against arbitrary dismissal, removal or reduction in rank. Article 310 says civil servants hold office during the pleasure of the President or the Governor, and Article 311 limits that pleasure.

Q187.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2025, Paper IMedium

The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are situated on which of the following islands?

  1. A.Kyushu and Shikoku respectively
  2. B.Kyushu and Honshu respectively
  3. C.Honshu and Kyushu respectively
  4. D.Honshu and Shikoku respectively
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Honshu and Kyushu respectively

Hiroshima lies in western Honshu, and Nagasaki lies on the west coast of Kyushu. Japan has four main islands: Hokkaido in the north, Honshu, the largest, in the middle, and Shikoku and Kyushu in the south-west.

Q188.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IEasy

Liquid water is denser than ice due to

  1. A.higher surface tension
  2. B.hydrogen bonding
  3. C.van der Waals forces
  4. D.covalent bonding
Show answer
Correct answer: B. hydrogen bonding

Hydrogen bonds lock the molecules of ice into an open cage, so ice takes up more space than the same mass of liquid water.

Q189.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2019, Paper IMedium

Which one among the following is NOT the central feature of Polyarchy ?

  1. A.Government is in the hands of elected officials
  2. B.Right to run for office is restricted
  3. C.Practically all adults have the right to vote
  4. D.There is free expression and a right to criticize and protest
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Right to run for office is restricted

In a polyarchy practically every adult may stand for office, so a restricted right to contest is the opposite of its central features.

Q190.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IEasy

As per provisions of the Constitution of India, which one of the following is correct?

  1. A.Only Parliament has the power to legislate over a subject under the Concurrent List
  2. B.Both Parliament and State Legislatures have the power to legislate over a subject under the Concurrent List
  3. C.A legislation made under the Concurrent List by Parliament should be ratified by half of the State Legislatures so as to become a law of the country
  4. D.Only State Legislatures are empowered to make laws under Concurrent List
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Both Parliament and State Legislatures have the power to legislate over a subject under the Concurrent List

Article 246(2) gives both of them the power to make laws on Concurrent List subjects. The Seventh Schedule divides law-making subjects into three lists: the Union List for Parliament, the State List for the states, and the Concurrent List shared by both.

Q191.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements about Amaranayakas of Vijayanagara are correct?

1. The Amaranayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya.

2. In lieu of their service and also to maintain their contingents, they were paid in cash.

3. They maintained stipulated contingents and elephants.

4. They used to send tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

The amara-nayakas were paid with territory to govern, not with cash, so statement 2 is the one that is wrong.

Q192.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2023, Paper IHard

Consider the following statements about the practice of Vedic sacrifices :

1. The shrauta (Vedic sacrifices) involved the use of three fires - the garhapatya (householder's fire), ahavaniya (offeratorial fire) and dakshinagni (southern fire).

2. These fires were supposed to be placed in pits of different shapes, i.e., the garhapatya to be square, ahavaniya to be round and that of the dakshinagni, rectangle-shaped.

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: A. 1 only

The shrauta rites did use three sacred fires, but statement 2 gets their shapes the wrong way round. Shrauta sacrifices are the grand rituals laid down in the Shrauta Sutras and the Brahmanas.

Q193.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper IEasy

Which one among the following statements with regard to India's maritime initiative, SAGAR, is correct?

  1. A.It is a platform for conducting joint naval exercises under QUAD
  2. B.It aimed at promoting maritime cooperation with countries of the Indian Ocean Region
  3. C.It is an alliance of India, USA and Japan to provide safety to merchant ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region
  4. D.It is the name given to India's participation in the Contact Group on Piracy set up by the UN Security Council
Show answer
Correct answer: B. It aimed at promoting maritime cooperation with countries of the Indian Ocean Region

SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region, India's vision for working with its ocean neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out SAGAR in Mauritius in March 2015.

Q194.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2025, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following statements with reference to Jal Jeevan Mission is not correct?

  1. A.It was established in the year 2016.
  2. B.It aims to improve quality of life in rural areas.
  3. C.It is to provide functional tap water connections to every rural household.
  4. D.It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. It was established in the year 2016.

Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on 15 August 2019, not in 2016, so this is the statement that is not correct.

Q195.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2026, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. A great circle is the largest possible circle that can be drawn on the surface of the sphere.

2. Every great circle divides the Earth into equal halves.

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

A great circle is a circle on a sphere whose centre is the centre of the sphere itself, so both statements describe it correctly.

Q196.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IHard

As per Census 2011, which one of the following is the correct descending order of States in India in respect of sex ratio (female per thousand of males)?

  1. A.West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Uttarakhand - Jammu and Kashmir
  2. B.Madhya Pradesh - West Bengal - Jammu and Kashmir - Uttarakhand
  3. C.Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
  4. D.West Bengal - Uttarakhand - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir

In Census 2011 their sex ratios were about 963, 950, 931 and 889 females per 1,000 males. Census 2011 put India's overall sex ratio at 943.

Q197.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

In relation to the powers of the Union Government of India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

  1. A.The Government of India may undertake legislative functions of a territory outside of India by agreement with the Government of that territory
  2. B.The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends
  3. C.The Union Government may direct States for construction and maintenance of means of communication of military importance
  4. D.The Governor may, with consent of Government of India, entrust its officers with functions on matters which fall within the executive power of the State
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends

It is not correct, because Article 258 expressly lets the President, with a State Government's consent, entrust to it functions on any matter to which the Union's executive power extends.

Q198.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct?

1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed.

2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri.

3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri.

4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true, but in 1585 Akbar moved his capital to Lahore, not back to Agra.

Q199.Static GKAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2025, Paper IHard

Which one among the following institutes was established first?

  1. A.The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
  2. B.The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
  3. C.The Indian Petroleum Institute, Dehradun
  4. D.The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Indian Petroleum Institute, Dehradun

The Indian Institute of Petroleum, a CSIR laboratory in Dehradun, was set up in 1960, earlier than the other three.

Q200.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2026, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements about a geographical feature :

1. The feature is in close proximity to the Malacca Strait.

2. The Government of India proposed an international container transhipment port in this region.

3. The region is one of the most critical nesting grounds for the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

4. The region is home to dense forest, rich coral reefs and sea grass meadows.

Which one among the following geographical features is described above?

  1. A.Galathea Bay
  2. B.Gulf of Mannar
  3. C.Gulf of Kutch
  4. D.Palk Strait
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Galathea Bay

Galathea Bay, on the south-east coast of Great Nicobar Island, fits all four clues. Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of India, and its tip, Indira Point, lies only about 150 km from the northern entrance of the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

All UPSC previous year questions