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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

Q5341.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.

2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.

3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Arcot grew out of the Nizam's Deccan dominion and Mysore out of the Vijayanagara Empire, but Rohilkhand was carved out of Mughal land, not Durrani's. The Nawabs of Arcot, or of the Carnatic, began as deputies of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who governed the Deccan for the Mughals; Saadatullah Khan…

Q5342.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and aircrafts.

2. Carbon fibres once used cannot be recycled.

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: A. 1 only

Carbon fibre is widely used in cars and aircraft for its strength and low weight, and it can be recovered and recycled.

Q5343.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. There are no parables in Upanishads.

2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

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 Upanishads are full of stories and parables, and they belong to the late Vedic period, well before the Puranas took shape.

Q5344.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the Indian polity, consider the following statements :

I. The Governor of a State is not answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his/her office.

II. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the Governor during his/her term of office.

III. Members of a State Legislature are not liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said within the House.

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: D. I, II and III

Article 361 protects the Governor in both ways described, and Article 194 protects what legislators say in the House. Under Article 361(1), the President and the Governor of a State are not answerable to any court for the exercise of the powers and duties of their office.

Q5345.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India :

1. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Constitution of India will be officially called the 'Constitution of India'.

2. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935 stand repealed.

3. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that mentions 26th January, 1950 as the date of the commencement of the Constitution of India.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

  1. A.All three statements are correct.
  2. B.There is no correct statement.
  3. C.There are two correct statements that include statement 3.
  4. D.There is only one correct statement.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. There is no correct statement.

Each of the three matters is covered by an Article in Part XXII of the Constitution, so all three statements are false.

Q5346.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

What is/are unique about 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?

1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.

2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.

3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

The Kharai camel of Kutch in Gujarat can swim through seawater to reach mangrove islands, where it feeds on mangrove leaves.

Q5347.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty ?

  1. A.If there are more laws, there is less liberty.
  2. B.If there are no laws, there is no liberty.
  3. C.If there is liberty, laws have to be made by the people.
  4. D.If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. If there are no laws, there is no liberty.

Liberty is not the absence of rules: without law, the strong could do as they pleased and no one else would be free.

Q5348.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IEasy

In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as

  1. A.pesticides in agriculture
  2. B.preservatives in processed foods
  3. C.fruit-ripening agents
  4. D.moisturising agents in cosmetics
Show answer
Correct answer: A. pesticides in agriculture

Carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos are all insecticides sprayed on crops, and all are highly toxic. Carbofuran is a carbamate; methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos are organophosphates.

Q5349.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. In terms of short-term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) deliver more credit in comparison to Scheduled Commercial Banks and Regional Rural Banks.

2. One of the most important functions of DCCBs is to provide funds to the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.

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

DCCBs are the middle tier that funds the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, but the commercial banks, not the DCCBs, give the largest share of short-term farm credit.

Q5350.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

  1. A.leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
  2. B.members of the Interim Government in 1946
  3. C.members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
  4. D.officers of the Indian National Army
Show answer
Correct answer: D. officers of the Indian National Army

These three INA officers were tried together by the British at the Red Fort in Delhi in 1945. After the Second World War, the British put Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon on trial for "waging war against the King".

Q5351.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

"Climate Action Tracker" which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a :

  1. A.Database created by coalition of research organisations
  2. B.Wing of "International Panel of Climate Change"
  3. C.Committee under "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"
  4. D.Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Database created by coalition of research organisations

The Climate Action Tracker is an independent scientific analysis run by research groups, not by any UN body. It is produced mainly by two non-profit research organisations, Climate Analytics and the NewClimate Institute, and has tracked national climate action since 2009.

Q5352.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements :

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.

2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.

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

Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, a zamindar who missed the fixed date of payment lost his estate, while the Ryotwari system gave the peasant no relief in bad years.

Q5353.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India :

I. List I-Union List, in the Seventh Schedule

II. Extent of the executive power of a State

III. Conditions of the Governor's office

For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?

  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: A. I and II only

Both the lists of the Seventh Schedule and the extent of a State's executive power are federal provisions named in the proviso to Article 368(2), so changing them needs ratification by half the State Legislatures.

Q5354.NationalMedium

Kaumarabhritya, the subject of KAUMARACON 2026, is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with which field?

  1. A.Surgery
  2. B.Child health
  3. C.Toxicology
  4. D.Geriatric care
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Child health

Kaumarabhritya is Ayurvedic paediatrics, and the conference named after it was devoted to advancing child healthcare through Ayurveda. The sessions covered Ayurvedic paediatric education, regulatory frameworks, traditional practices and scope for collaboration between countries, and a round-table examined policy, education and research in the discipline.

Q5355.NationalMedium

An Academic Chair in Ayurveda is to be set up under an international MoU signed by AIIA Goa with which university?

  1. A.Maharishi International University, United States
  2. B.University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
  3. C.University of Melbourne, Australia
  4. D.Heidelberg University, Germany
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Maharishi International University, United States

The international agreement was signed between AIIA Goa and that university, which is located at Fairfield in the state of Iowa, and it provides for an Academic Chair in Ayurveda in the university’s Department of Physiology and Health.

Q5356.NationalMedium

On its 10th Foundation Day, the All India Institute of Ayurveda signed Memorandums of Understanding with which two organisations?

  1. A.Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth and Arogya Bharati
  2. B.The National Medical Commission and Arogya Bharati
  3. C.Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth and the Indian Council of Medical Research
  4. D.The Ministry of Ayush and the National Medical Commission
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth and Arogya Bharati

Both agreements were signed at the Foundation Day ceremony to strengthen cooperation between institutions and the sharing of knowledge in Ayurveda.

Q5357.NationalEasy

Which foundation day was marked by the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, as KAUMARACON 2026 concluded?

  1. A.5th Foundation Day
  2. B.10th Foundation Day
  3. C.15th Foundation Day
  4. D.25th Foundation Day
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 10th Foundation Day

The All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi celebrated ten years of work in Ayurveda teaching, research, clinical care and international collaboration, and the day fell on the concluding day of KAUMARACON 2026, the three-day international conference on Kaumarabhritya organised by the institute.

Q5358.DefenceHard

HMS Sutherland, the Royal Navy ship in KONKAN-26, is a frigate of which class, built mainly for which role?

  1. A.Type 45 class, air defence
  2. B.Duke class, anti-submarine warfare
  3. C.River class, offshore patrol
  4. D.Astute class, mine warfare
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Duke class, anti-submarine warfare

HMS Sutherland, the ship the Royal Navy deployed for KONKAN-26, is described as a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate, and anti-submarine warfare was indeed one of the areas the two navies practised during the sea phase.