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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

Q4701.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IEasy

'SWAYAM', an initiative of the Government of India, aims at

  1. A.promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas
  2. B.providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs
  3. C.promoting the education and health of adolescent girls
  4. D.providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free
Show answer
Correct answer: D. providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free

SWAYAM is India's national platform of free online courses. SWAYAM stands for Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds.

Q4702.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for

  1. A.Measuring oxygen levels in blood
  2. B.Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems
  3. C.Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems
  4. D.Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems

BOD tells how much organic pollution a body of water carries. Biological, or biochemical, Oxygen Demand is the amount of dissolved oxygen that aerobic micro-organisms use up while breaking down the organic matter in a water sample, usually measured over five days at 20 degrees Celsius and expressed in milligrams…

Q4703.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

The magnetic field has flipped many times and life changed the early air, but the young Earth had almost no free oxygen.

Q4704.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought 2. lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources 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 Act empowers the Centre to set emission and discharge standards, but it says nothing about public participation. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was passed after the Bhopal gas tragedy as an umbrella law under Article 253, to give effect to the decisions of the 1972 Stockholm Conference.

Q4705.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements : 1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when 'bud chip settlings' are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts. 4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Bud chip nurseries save seed cane and tissue-culture settlings are used, but single-bud setts do worse than larger setts when planted directly.

Q4706.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements : 1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. 2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia. 3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce. 4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa. 5. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Moringa is not a legume and tamarind is not native to South Asia, so statements 1 and 2 are false.

Q4707.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IHard

According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct ? 1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment. 2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free. 3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son. 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: D. 1, 2 and 3

The Arthashastra records all three rules about slavery. Kautilya's Arthashastra, the treatise on statecraft linked to the Mauryan court of Chandragupta Maurya, has a section on dasas, or slaves.

Q4708.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following activities : 1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively 2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime 3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.All three
  4. D.None
Show answer
Correct answer: C. All three

Each activity is a recognised way of pulling carbon dioxide out of circulation and locking it away.

Q4709.Awards & HonoursAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IHard

X, born in the UK, was conferred the Nobel Prize in 2025. He was a professor in an American university when this prize was announced. Identify 'X':

  1. A.Michel H. Devoret
  2. B.Richard Robson
  3. C.John Clarke
  4. D.Joel Mokyr
Show answer
Correct answer: C. John Clarke

He was born in Cambridge, England, and is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for discovering macroscopic quantum tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.

Q4710.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

What is/are the purpose/purposes of 'District Mineral Foundations' in India? 1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts 2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations 3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration Select the correct answer using the code given below

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

District Mineral Foundations exist to work for the people and areas affected by mining, not to promote exploration or grant licences.

Q4711.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only. 2. Western Ghats are spread over five States only. 3. Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Pulicat Lake lies in two states, but the Himalayas and the Western Ghats each spread over more than five states.

Q4712.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities. 2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments. 3. Treasury bills are issued at a discount from the par value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Only the Centre issues treasury bills and they are sold at a discount, but the RBI also manages state government securities.

Q4714.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IHard

According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels ? 1. Cassava 2. Damaged wheat grains 3. Groundnut seeds 4. Horse gram 5. Rotten potatoes 6. Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1, 2, 5 and 6 only
  2. B.1, 3, 4 and 6 only
  3. C.2, 3, 4 and 5 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

The policy allows cassava, damaged wheat, rotten potatoes and sugar beet, but not groundnut seeds or horse gram. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 widened the raw materials for ethanol beyond sugarcane molasses.

Q4715.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements : 1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater. 2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater. 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

Ice caps and glaciers hold more water than groundwater, while rivers and lakes hold far less than groundwater. About 97 per cent of the Earth's water is salty ocean water, and only about 2.5 to 3 per cent is fresh.

Q4717.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IEasy

'Wolbachia method' is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?

  1. A.Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
  2. B.Converting crop residues into packing material
  3. C.Producing biodegradable plastics
  4. D.Producing biochar from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes

The method uses a natural bacterium to stop mosquitoes from passing on viruses. Wolbachia is a common bacterium that lives inside the cells of many insects.

Q4718.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements regarding 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' : 1. Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha. 2. This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act. 3. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

The Act runs for 15 years and reserves seats for SC women inside the SC quota, but it did not start with the 18th Lok Sabha.

Q4719.SportsEasy

What colour were both the medals India won on 20 October 2026 at the Asian Para Games 2026?

  1. A.One gold and one silver
  2. B.Both silver
  3. C.Both bronze
  4. D.One bronze and one gold
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Both bronze

The two Indian medals reported from the Asian Para Games 2026 on 20 October 2026 were bronze: Ravanni Valasanaini in the Women’s 1500m T11 event, where the result also stood as her personal best, and Bhavina Patel in the Women’s Singles Class 4-5 event, where the medal was called another…

Q4720.SportsMedium

Which Indian athlete won bronze in the Women’s 1500m T11 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a personal best?

  1. A.Bhavina Patel
  2. B.Ravanni Valasanaini
  3. C.Deepa Malik
  4. D.Simran Sharma
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Ravanni Valasanaini

She brought home the bronze in the Women’s 1500m T11 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 on 20 October 2026, and the timing was also her personal best, which is why her result was read as a double gain: a podium place and her own fastest run.