Skip to content
GK24
Prime

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

Q5461.NationalMedium

Within how many days of the Official Gazette copies reaching the public may stakeholders file objections to the FSSAI draft on infant nutrition?

  1. A.30 days
  2. B.45 days
  3. C.60 days
  4. D.90 days
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 60 days

The notification on sucrose and fructose in infant foods has been published as a draft for public consultation, and objections as well as suggestions from stakeholders are invited within sixty days of the date on which copies of the Official Gazette carrying it are made available to the public.

Q5462.NationalMedium

The FSSAI draft amendment of 2026 modifies which parent regulations on foods for infant nutrition?

  1. A.Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2011
  2. B.Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2016
  3. C.Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020
  4. D.Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2024
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020

These are the parent rules that the new draft, styled the Amendment Regulations of 2026, sets out to edit.

Q5463.NationalEasy

Which two sugars does the FSSAI draft amendment propose to keep out of products meant for infants up to six months of age?

  1. A.Lactose and maltose
  2. B.Sucrose and fructose
  3. C.Glucose polymers and lactose
  4. D.Sorbitol and mannitol
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Sucrose and fructose

The draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026, which reached the Gazette of India on 16 October 2026, proposes that these two sugars not be added to any product intended for an infant up to the age of six months.

Q5465.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IHard

With reference to India, consider the following pairs:

Organization : Union Ministry

I. The National Automotive Board : Ministry of Commerce and Industry

II. The Coir Board : Ministry of Heavy Industries

III. The National Centre for Trade Information : Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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

Each organisation is paired with the wrong ministry. The National Automotive Board works under the Ministry of Heavy Industries; it supports the automobile sector with testing and certification work and helps run schemes for the industry.

Q5466.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

What is/are the purpose/purposes of the 'Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)' announced by RBI?

1. These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances.

2. These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks.

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: C. Both 1 and 2

The RBI brought in MCLR to make banks' loan pricing more transparent and to give borrowers rates that are fair to both sides.

Q5467.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IHard

With reference to 'Quality Council of India (QCI)', consider the following statements:

1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.

2. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government.

Which of the above statements 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

QCI is a joint body of the government and industry, and its chairperson is appointed by the Prime Minister on the industry's recommendation.

Q5468.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the

  1. A.Federal Legislature
  2. B.Governor General
  3. C.Provincial Legislature
  4. D.Provincial Governors
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Governor General

Section 104 of the Government of India Act, 1935 vested residuary powers in the Governor-General, who could assign a subject to either the Centre or a province.

Q5469.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following pairs:

Glacier : River

1. Bandarpunch : Yamuna

2. Bara Shigri : Chenab

3. Milam : Mandakini

4. Siachen : Nubra

5. Zemu : Manas

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Bandarpunch feeds the Yamuna, Bara Shigri the Chenab and Siachen the Nubra; pairs 3 and 5 are wrong. The Yamunotri glacier, the source of the Yamuna, lies on the western slopes of the Bandarpunch massif in Uttarakhand.

Q5470.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

  1. A.Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
  2. B.Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
  3. C.Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
  4. D.Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Paragana—Sarkar—Suba

From smallest to largest, several parganas made a sarkar and several sarkars made a suba. Under the Mughals, especially after Akbar's reorganisation of 1580, the empire was divided into subas or provinces, each headed by a subedar with a diwan in charge of revenue.

Q5471.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.

2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.

3. Power grids could be damaged.

4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.

5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.

6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.

7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1, 2, 4 and 5 only
  2. B.2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
  3. C.1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only

A strong solar storm disturbs the Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere, which hits electrical and radio systems, but it cannot cause tsunamis or forest fires.

Q5472.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following information:

Archaeological Site : State : Description

1. Chandraketugarh : Odisha : Trading Port town

2. Inamgaon : Maharashtra : Chalcolithic site

3. Mangadu : Kerala : Megalithic site

4. Salihundam : Andhra Pradesh : Rock-cut cave shrines

In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

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

Inamgaon is a Chalcolithic site in Maharashtra and Mangadu is a megalithic site in Kerala; rows 1 and 4 each have an error.

Q5473.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements:

With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule

I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration

II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor

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: D. Neither I nor II

A Fifth Schedule area stays under the State's executive power, and the Union can only give directions about it, not take over its administration.

Q5474.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.

2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration.

3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission.

Select the answer using the code given below:

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

Samudrayaan is part of the Deep Ocean Mission and its vehicle Matsya-6000 is built to take three people into the deep sea; the mission belongs to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Q5476.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following pairs:

Towns sometimes mentioned in news : Country

1. Aleppo - Syria

2. Kirkuk - Yemen

3. Mosul - Palestine

4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Aleppo is in Syria and Mazar-i-Sharif is in Afghanistan; Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq. Aleppo, in north-western Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and its old city with the citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q5477.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IEasy

Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?

  1. A.China
  2. B.India
  3. C.Myanmar
  4. D.Vietnam
Show answer
Correct answer: B. India

India has been the world's largest rice exporter every year since 2011-12, well ahead of Thailand and Vietnam. India ships both basmati rice, mainly to West Asia, Europe and North America, and non-basmati rice, mainly to Africa and South and South-East Asia.

Q5478.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do?

1. Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio

2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate

3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate

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

An expansionist policy aims to make money cheaper and more plentiful, so the RBI would not raise the Marginal Standing Facility rate, which makes borrowing dearer.

Q5479.Books & AuthorsAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

  1. A.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  2. B.Jawaharlal Nehru
  3. C.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

While held in Yerwada jail, Gandhi translated old Indian hymns and devotional lyrics into English, and these were published as 'Songs from Prison'.

Q5480.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:

1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.

2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.

3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.

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

Sputnik V uses adenovirus vectors and Covaxin uses killed (inactivated) virus; Covishield is not an mRNA vaccine. Covishield is the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by the Serum Institute.