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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

Q4981.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs? 1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee 2. Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs 3. Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  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: D. 1 and 3 only

The Chief of Defence Staff is the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister, but does not command the three Service Chiefs.

Q4982.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IEasy

Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?

  1. A.'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
  2. B.Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
  3. C.Bhaskarrao Jadhav
  4. D.Dinkarrao Javalkar
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker

Periyar launched the Self-Respect Movement in the Madras Presidency in 1925 to fight caste discrimination and Brahmin dominance. Periyar had left the Congress after he felt it did little for non-Brahmins.

Q4983.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'Financial Stability and Development Council', consider the following statements : 1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog. 2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister. 3. It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy. 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

The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and oversees macroprudential supervision, but it has nothing to do with NITI Aayog.

Q4984.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries ? 1. Jordan 2. Iraq 3. Lebanon 4. Syria Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Lebanon and Syria have coastlines on the eastern Mediterranean; Jordan and Iraq do not. The eastern shore of the Mediterranean, called the Levant coast, runs from Turkey in the north through Syria, Lebanon and Israel to the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Q4985.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then

  1. A.the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.
  2. B.the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
  3. C.Article 19 is suspended in that State.
  4. D.the President can make laws relating to that State.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.

Under President's Rule, Article 356(1)(b) lets the President declare that the powers of the State Legislature shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.

Q4986.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements : 1. The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year. 2. When a State Legislature does not have a rule on a particular matter, it follows the Lok Sabha rule on that matter. 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: D. Neither 1 nor 2

The Governor's address is a constitutional duty, not a custom, and a State Legislature is not bound to borrow Lok Sabha rules.

Q4987.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National Park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Nagarhole, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad all drain into the Cauvery system, while Papikonda lies on the Godavari. Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka is bounded by the Kabini river, a major tributary of the Cauvery.

Q4988.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements : 1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States. 2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status. 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 Cripps proposals let any province stay out of the new Union and deal with Britain separately, but the provincial members of the Constituent Assembly were to be elected, not nominated.

Q4990.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IEasy

Which of the following countries are members of the European Union? 1. Belarus 2. Poland 3. Germany 4. Switzerland Select the answer using the code given below :

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

Poland and Germany are members of the European Union, while Belarus and Switzerland are not. Germany is one of the six founding members of the European Communities set up in the 1950s, which grew into the EU under the Maastricht Treaty of 1993.

Q4992.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2018, Paper IEasy

Which one of the following is the correct combination of languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India?

  1. A.Nepali, Konkani, Tulu and Santhali
  2. B.Santhali, Urdu, Konkani and Maithili
  3. C.Santhali, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Urdu
  4. D.Dogri, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Urdu
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Santhali, Urdu, Konkani and Maithili

All four are among the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule. The Eighth Schedule began with 14 languages in 1950, Urdu among them.

Q4994.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2018, Paper IMedium

Over which of the following, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha held joint sittings to resolve their differences? 1. The Dowry Prohibition Bill, 1959 2. The Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill, 1978 3. The Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002 4. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Only three joint sittings have been held since 1950, and they were on exactly these three bills.

Q4995.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements: 1. River Kaveri has well developed valley 2. Valley of River Alakananda is still growing 3. River Krishna is largest east flowing peninsular river Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

The Kaveri is an old peninsular river with a mature valley, and the Alaknanda is a young Himalayan river still cutting its valley, but the largest east-flowing peninsular river is the Godavari, not the Krishna.

Q4996.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

  1. A.Mahogany is a timber species of Tropical Rainforest
  2. B.Chaparral vegetation is found in Taiga climate
  3. C.Lichens are predominantly found in Tundra region
  4. D.Sal is a representative species of Moist Deciduous Forest
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Chaparral vegetation is found in Taiga climate

Chaparral is the shrub vegetation of the Mediterranean climate in California, not of the cold Taiga, so this statement is incorrect.

Q4997.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

Which of the following statements are correct with regard to Speaker/Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha? 1. On dissolution of the Lok Sabha, both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker cease to be members of the House. 2. Both Speaker and Deputy Speaker vacate their office on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. 3. Only Deputy Speaker vacates his office and Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after dissolution. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Dissolution ends the membership of every member, but Article 94 keeps the Speaker in office until just before the new House first meets.

Q4998.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IMedium

Which of the following factors are needed for the growth of corals? 1. Freshwater 2. Clear shallow salt water 3. Plenty of sunlight for photosynthesis 4. Warm water between 23 °C and 25 °C Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Corals grow in clear, shallow, warm sea water with plenty of sunlight; fresh water kills them. Coral reefs are built by tiny animals called polyps, which take calcium carbonate from sea water to make hard skeletons.