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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

Q5162.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries?

1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project

2. IMT Trilateral Highway

3. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line

Select the answer using the code given below :

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

The Kaladan project and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway link India with ASEAN members, while the Agartala–Akhaura line links India with Bangladesh, which is not in ASEAN.

Q5163.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IHard

With reference to an initiative called 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.

2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.

3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  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

Statement 1 is wrong because TEEB is hosted by the UN Environment Programme alone, not jointly with the IMF and the World Economic Forum.

Q5164.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through

1. Adjournment motion

2. Question hour

3. Supplementary questions

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  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: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three are devices through which Parliament holds the Council of Ministers to account. Under Article 75(3) the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and Parliament enforces this through several tools.

Q5165.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables

1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.

2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.

3. accumulation of tangible wealth.

4. accumulation of intangible wealth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Human capital formation means raising people's knowledge, skills and abilities, which is a form of intangible wealth. Human capital is the stock of education, skill, health and experience that makes people productive.

Q5166.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements :

1. The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of 'Office of Profit'.

2. The above-mentioned Act was amended five times.

3. The term 'Office of Profit' is well-defined in the Constitution of India.

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: A. 1 and 2 only

Statement 3 is wrong because the Constitution uses the term 'office of profit' but never defines it.

Q5167.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India.

2. In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise.

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

Procurement at MSP is limited, and MSP is a floor price that market prices often exceed. The Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Q5168.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following rivers :

1. Brahmani

2. Nagavali

3. Subarnarekha

4. Vamsadhara

Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

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

The Nagavali and the Vamsadhara both rise in the Eastern Ghats of southern Odisha. The Nagavali (also called Langulya) rises in the Eastern Ghats in Kalahandi district of Odisha and flows into the Bay of Bengal in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Q5169.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

"Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations ?

  1. A.Restoration of damaged coral reefs
  2. B.Development of building materials using plant residues
  3. C.Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas
  4. D.Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests/protected areas
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Restoration of damaged coral reefs

Biorock is a method of growing reef structures under the sea with a mild electric current, so that corals can settle and recover.

Q5170.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements :

1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.

2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.

3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Green hydrogen is chemically the same as any hydrogen, so it can be burnt in engines, mixed with natural gas or used in fuel cells.

Q5171.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IEasy

'Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)', often in the news, is

  1. A.a division of World Health Organization
  2. B.a non-governmental international organization
  3. C.an inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union
  4. D.a specialized agency of the United Nations
Show answer
Correct answer: B. a non-governmental international organization

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent humanitarian group run by doctors and other volunteers. MSF was founded in Paris in 1971 by a group of French doctors and journalists, and its international office is in Geneva.

Q5173.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if

  1. A.industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output.
  2. B.agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output.
  3. C.poverty and unemployment increase.
  4. D.imports grow faster than exports.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. poverty and unemployment increase.

Economic development means better lives for people, so rising income alone is not development if poverty and joblessness are growing.

Q5174.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.

2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis.

3. Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

The coal industry was nationalised under Indira Gandhi, but coal blocks are not given by lottery and India still imports coal.

Q5175.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs :

River — Flows into

1. Mekong — Andaman Sea

2. Thames — Irish Sea

3. Volga — Caspian Sea

4. Zambezi — Indian Ocean

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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

The Volga ends in the Caspian Sea and the Zambezi in the Indian Ocean, while the first two pairs are wrong.

Q5177.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants?

1. Alfalfa

2. Amaranth

3. Chickpea

4. Clover

5. Purslane (Kulfa)

6. Spinach

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Alfalfa, chickpea and clover are legumes, and legumes fix nitrogen. Plants of the legume family (Fabaceae) carry root nodules that house Rhizobium bacteria.

Q5178.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution :

1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.

2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution.

3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Gold mining and coal burning are the two biggest human sources of mercury, and no level of exposure is known to be safe.

Q5179.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces ?

Army — Airforce — Navy

1. Brigadier — Air Commodore — Commodore

2. Major General — Air Vice Marshal — Vice Admiral

3. Major — Squadron Leader — Lieutenant Commander

4. Lieutenant Colonel — Group Captain — Captain

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Rows 1 and 3 give matching ranks, while rows 2 and 4 each pair ranks of different levels.

Q5180.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) :

I. It provides loans and guarantees to middle income countries.

II. It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.

III. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Statement II is wrong because the IBRD works alongside other World Bank Group institutions and partners, not single-handedly. The IBRD was set up at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, together with the IMF.