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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

Q4601.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct ? 1. Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. 2. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education. 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: B. 2 only

The NSQF recognises skills learnt in any way, formal, non-formal or informal, and aims to let learners move between vocational and general education.

Q4602.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agriculture" assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture ? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Conservation agriculture rests on three principles: minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification through rotations.

Q4603.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IHard

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture ? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible. 2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible. 3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible. 4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Fertigation feeds dissolved fertiliser through drip or sprinkler lines, but it cannot use insoluble rock phosphate. Fertigation means applying fertilisers along with irrigation water, usually through a drip system, so that small doses reach the root zone exactly when the crop needs them.

Q4604.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements : 1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of egg. 2. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father. 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

Mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother, and mitochondrial replacement therapy can stop a mitochondrial disease from passing to the child.

Q4605.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, credit rating agencies are regulated by Reserve Bank of India. 2. The rating agency popularly known as ICRA is a public limited company. 3. Brickwork Ratings is an Indian credit rating agency. Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Credit rating agencies in India are regulated by SEBI, not by the RBI, while statements 2 and 3 are true.

Q4606.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?

  1. A.Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna
  2. B.Stimulating 'stem cells' to transform into diverse functional tissues
  3. C.Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plants
  4. D.Assessing the efficacy of drugs by conducting series of drug trials in a population
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna

Microsatellites are genetic markers that show how closely related individuals, populations and species are. Microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs) or simple sequence repeats, are stretches of DNA in which a short motif of one to six bases, such as CA, is repeated many times.

Q4607.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements with regard to pardoning power of the President of India : I. The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review. II. The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.I only
  2. B.II only
  3. C.Both I and II
  4. D.Neither I nor II
Show answer
Correct answer: A. I only

Courts can review a pardon on limited grounds, but the President always acts on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.

Q4609.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

A member giving notice of a resolution for removal of Speaker, Lok Sabha should be addressed to the

  1. A.Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha
  2. B.Secretary General, Lok Sabha
  3. C.Prime Minister
  4. D.President
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Secretary General, Lok Sabha

Under the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha, a member who wants to move a resolution to remove the Speaker must give notice of it in writing to the Secretary General.

Q4610.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2018, Paper IHard

Which of the following statements about Bodhisattas is/are correct? 1. They were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts. 2. They made attempt to attain Nibbana. 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: A. 1 only

Bodhisattas were seen as deeply compassionate beings who gathered merit by their efforts, but they used that merit to help others rather than to attain nibbana for themselves.

Q4611.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

Tamilakam was the name of the ancient Tamil country that included

  1. A.present-day Tamil Nadu as well as parts of Sri Lanka
  2. B.land between present day Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula
  3. C.present-day Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra
  4. D.present day Kerala, Telangana and Karnataka
Show answer
Correct answer: B. land between present day Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula

Sangam literature describes Tamilakam as the land stretching from the Venkatam hills, around Tirupati, in the north to Kumari, the southern tip of the peninsula.

Q4612.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper IMedium

Which of the following is a part of the capital receipt of the Government of India ? 1. Disinvestment receipts 2. Interest receipts 3. Small savings 4. Net market borrowing Select the answer using the code given below:

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

Disinvestment, small savings and market borrowing either create a liability for the government or reduce its assets, so they are capital receipts; interest received is a revenue receipt.

Q4614.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2019, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following pairs of organization and their founders is NOT correctly matched ?

  1. A.National Liberation Federation : Tej Bahadur Sapru and M. R. Jayakar
  2. B.Jamiat-ul-Ulama-i-Hind : Maulana Mahmud-al Hasan Shaikh-ul-Hind
  3. C.Congress Democratic Party : B. G. Tilak
  4. D.Congress Socialist Party : M. N. Roy
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Congress Socialist Party : M. N. Roy

The Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934 by Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev and Minoo Masani, not by M. N. Roy.

Q4615.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Parmahansa Mandali was founded in Bengal by Swami Vivekananda 2. Prarthana Samaj was started in Maharashtra with the aim of reforming Hindu religious thought and practice 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: B. 2 only

The Paramahansa Mandali was a Maharashtra body, founded in Bombay, not in Bengal by Swami Vivekananda, while the Prarthana Samaj was indeed a Maharashtra reform movement.

Q4616.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2023, Paper IEasy

Which one of the following statements is correct about Spring tides ?

  1. A.High tide is higher than average high tide and Low tide is higher than average low tide.
  2. B.High tide is lower than average high tide and Low tide is higher than average low tide.
  3. C.High tide is higher than average high tide and Low tide is lower than average low tide.
  4. D.High tide is lower than average high tide and Low tide is lower than average low tide.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. High tide is higher than average high tide and Low tide is lower than average low tide.

At spring tide the pulls of the Sun and the Moon add up, so the tidal range is at its greatest.

Q4617.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper IMedium

Retail core inflation is calculated excluding which of the following ? 1. Food and beverages 2. Fuel and light 3. Transport and communication 4. Clothing and Education Select the answer using the code given below:

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

Retail core inflation is the rise in the Consumer Price Index after leaving out its two most volatile groups, food and beverages and fuel and light.

Q4620.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2019, Paper IHard

Who among the following were jailed in the Kanpur Bolshevik conspiracy case in 1924?

  1. A.Muzaffar Ahmad, S. A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta
  2. B.Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Usmani
  3. C.S. A. Dange and S. V. Ghate
  4. D.Muzaffar Ahmad and S. S. Mirajkar
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Muzaffar Ahmad, S. A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta

These four early communists were convicted in the Cawnpore (Kanpur) Bolshevik Conspiracy Case of 1924 and sentenced to four years in jail.