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UPSC Civil Services GK Questions 2026

Static general knowledge is six of the seven lines of the General Studies Paper-I syllabus in the UPSC CSE notice: History of India and the Indian National Movement; Indian and World Geography; Indian Polity and Governance; Economic and Social Development; Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change; and General Science. The Commission tests understanding rather than recall, through statements to be judged correct or incorrect, pairs to be matched and assertion-reason items, and it likes the edges of a topic: a lesser-known provision of the Constitution, a river's tributary, a species' conservation status, the mandate of a statutory body. This page holds GK24's topic-wise GK notes for UPSC, written as short facts and tables, in English and Hindi, with each note linked to the current affairs and previous-year questions on the same topic. Start with Polity and Modern History, which carry the most questions, then Geography, the Economy, Environment, Ancient and Medieval culture and Science. Read a note, solve its PYQs, take its quiz, and come back to it in your monthly revision. A candidate who knows these notes and reads the daily current affairs has covered the syllabus the notice prescribes for Paper-I.

UPSC Civil Services GK Questions with Answers

Q3721.Art & CultureAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKHard

Which one of the following has been an important early Chola painting discovered at the Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur in 1931?

  1. A.Buddha with Chauri-bearers on either side
  2. B.Shiva as Yoga-Dakshinamurti
  3. C.Yakshi Kali
  4. D.Parshvanatha with snake-hood on a lion-throne
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Shiva as Yoga-Dakshinamurti

The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur was built by Rajaraja Chola I and dedicated to Shiva, so its early Chola murals show Shaiva themes.

Q3722.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKMedium

The distribution of charkhas on a wide scale among the people was decided by :

  1. A.Congress Working Committee in 1919
  2. B.All India Congress Committee in 1921
  3. C.Mahatma Gandhi at the start of Dandi March
  4. D.All India Congress Committee in 1947
Show answer
Correct answer: B. All India Congress Committee in 1921

At its meeting at Bezwada (Vijayawada) in March 1921, the AICC set three targets to carry the Non-Cooperation Movement forward: one crore members for the Congress, one crore rupees for the Tilak Swaraj Fund, and twenty lakh charkhas to be distributed among the people by 30 June 1921.

Q3723.Books & AuthorsAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKHard

In which one of the following works has Amir Khusrau praised the climate of India, its languages, notably Sanskrit, its arts and music and even its animals?

  1. A.Ijaz-i Khusrawi
  2. B.Dewal Rani Khizr Khani
  3. C.Khazainul Futuh
  4. D.Nuh Sipihr
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Nuh Sipihr

In this poem Amir Khusrau sets out to show that India is superior to other lands, praising its climate, its languages, its arts and music, and even its animals.

Q3725.Government SchemesEasy

In which year was the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela established?

  1. A.2014
  2. B.2016
  3. C.2018
  4. D.2021
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2018

The centre at Rourkela in Odisha was set up that year as a joint effort of three ministries and the central public sector undertakings under them, and it has since trained Scheduled Tribe youth in trades ranging from tailoring and baking to mushroom farming, electrical work and computer operation with…

Q3726.Government SchemesHard

Under which scheme were plant and machinery installed at the Rourkela livelihood incubation centre?

  1. A.ASPIRE
  2. B.SAMARTH
  3. C.PM Vishwakarma
  4. D.Stand Up India
Show answer
Correct answer: A. ASPIRE

The split of responsibilities is the heart of this item and is worth memorising: the Rourkela Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited gives the land and premises, the MSME ministry's scheme pays for the machinery, and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation carries the running costs…

Q3727.Government SchemesMedium

The Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela, covered by the tripartite MoU, has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by which ministry?

  1. A.Ministry of Steel
  2. B.Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  3. C.Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  4. D.Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

The correct answer is the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which recognised the Rourkela centre as a Centre of Excellence and also meets its recurring expenses through a grant routed by the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation.

Q3730.EnvironmentMedium

Who chairs the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas, which reviewed pollution control work with Punjab and Haryana?

  1. A.Rajesh Verma
  2. B.Bhupender Yadav
  3. C.Tanmay Kumar
  4. D.Atal Dulloo
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Rajesh Verma

He chaired the two separate review meetings the Commission held at Chandigarh with the governments of Punjab and Haryana, going through enforcement on the ground, district preparedness and the use of crop residue machinery.

Q3731.EnvironmentHard

Which two institutions jointly organised the ministerial track at the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026?

  1. A.IISD and CEEW
  2. B.NITI Aayog and TERI
  3. C.IREDA and SECI
  4. D.NSEFI and NISE
Show answer
Correct answer: A. IISD and CEEW

They co-organised the dedicated ministerial session at which state energy and agriculture ministers presented their approaches to scaling up agrivoltaics, showcased investment opportunities and discussed adapting the PM-KUSUM scheme to local crops.

Q3732.EnvironmentMedium

Under Odisha's proposed agrivoltaics policy, what minimum share of a project site must remain cultivable?

  1. A.50 per cent
  2. B.70 per cent
  3. C.80 per cent
  4. D.90 per cent
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 90 per cent

The whole point of agrivoltaics is that farming continues under and around the solar panels, so the draft policy fixes a high floor for the share of each site that must stay fit for cultivation, and pairs it with safeguards on farmer consent and crop insurance.

Q3733.EnvironmentMedium

Which state announced at the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 that it is finalising a dedicated agrivoltaics policy with a target of 1 GW by 2030?

  1. A.Uttar Pradesh
  2. B.Madhya Pradesh
  3. C.Odisha
  4. D.Bihar
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Odisha

Its Deputy Chief Minister told the ministerial track that the state is giving final shape to an Agrivoltaics Policy 2026 built around a target of 1 GW by 2030, under which at least ninety per cent of a project site must remain cultivable, farmer consent and crop insurance are protected…

Q3734.Summits & ConferencesHard

Under which policy is the Urban Mobility India Conference organised as an annual initiative?

  1. A.National Urban Transport Policy, 2006
  2. B.National Transit Oriented Development Policy, 2017
  3. C.National Urban Housing Policy, 2007
  4. D.National Electric Mobility Mission, 2013
Show answer
Correct answer: A. National Urban Transport Policy, 2006

The conference is run every year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under that policy, through the Institute of Urban Transport (India), and the policy itself stresses capacity building at state and city level while promoting equitable and sustainable urban transport systems.

Q3736.Summits & ConferencesMedium

What is the theme of the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition 2026?

  1. A.Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age
  2. B.Cities for All, Mobility for All
  3. C.Urban Rising - Rethinking Urban Systems, Solutions and Delivery
  4. D.Green Mobility for Viksit Bharat
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age

The ministry's joint secretary announced this theme for the two-day conference in Bhubaneswar, and said sessions would look at sustainable low-carbon public transport, integration of modes, first and last mile connectivity, Mobility as a Service and real-time technology for passengers.

Q3737.Government SchemesMedium

How many permanent houses were sanctioned for Haryana under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin at the Taraori event?

  1. A.18,422
  2. B.24,822
  3. C.28,422
  4. D.38,422
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 28,422

Speaking as Union Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced central approval for that many permanent houses for eligible poor families in Haryana, with Rs 1,343.06 crore sanctioned for the purpose, and handed the formal letter to Haryana Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Shyam Singh Rana on the stage.

Q3738.Government SchemesMedium

Until which date will the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan awareness drive run in villages?

  1. A.31 October 2026
  2. B.15 November 2026
  3. C.30 November 2026
  4. D.31 December 2026
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 30 November 2026

The Minister asked vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, scientists and officials to leave their laboratories and offices and reach villages between 22 October and 30 November 2026, holding meetings with farmers on soil health and balanced nutrient use.

Q3739.Government SchemesEasy

From which place was the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan launched on 22 October 2026?

  1. A.Sirsa, Haryana
  2. B.Taraori in Karnal district, Haryana
  3. C.Sehore, Madhya Pradesh
  4. D.Pusa, New Delhi
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Taraori in Karnal district, Haryana

The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development chose this historic town for the launch of the soil health campaign, and farmers at the venue took a collective pledge to apply fertiliser in balance and to stop setting fire to crop residue.