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

Q5481.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?

  1. A.Devaraya I
  2. B.Mallikarjuna
  3. C.Vira Vijaya
  4. D.Virupaksha
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Devaraya I

He built a large dam on the Tungabhadra and a long canal-cum-aqueduct that brought its water to the capital, Vijayanagara.

Q5482.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of the digital rupee:

1. It is a sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in alignment with its monetary policy.

2. It appears as a liability on the RBI's balance sheet.

3. It is insured against inflation by its very design.

4. It is freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

The digital rupee is RBI-issued sovereign money, sits as a liability of the RBI like notes do, and can be exchanged one-to-one for cash and bank deposits.

Q5483.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements:

I. The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.

II. The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.

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: A. I only

Article 163 speaks expressly of functions the Governor exercises in his or her discretion, but only the Governor can reserve a State bill for the President.

Q5484.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?

1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 - 1000 physical qubits.

2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.

Select the 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 mission targets intermediate-scale quantum computers of 50 to 1000 physical qubits and is being carried out through four Thematic Hubs.

Q5485.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following pairs:

1. Radhakanta Deb — First President of the British Indian Association

2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty — Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha

3. Surendranath Banerjee — Founder of the Indian Association

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Radhakanta Deb headed the British Indian Association and Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian Association; pair 2 is wrong. The British Indian Association was formed in Calcutta in 1851 by the landed gentry of Bengal, with Raja Radhakanta Deb as its first president and Debendranath Tagore as secretary.

Q5486.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India?

1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did.

2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centres within our national geographical boundaries.

3. Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places and major tourist centres.

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: B. 3 only

Connecting villages to the Internet and offering Wi-Fi in schools and public places is part of Digital India; the other two are not its stated aims.

Q5487.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs:

Sea : Bordering country

1. Adriatic Sea : Albania

2. Black Sea : Croatia

3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan

4. Mediterranean Sea : Morocco

5. Red Sea : Syria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Albania lies on the Adriatic, Kazakhstan on the Caspian and Morocco on the Mediterranean. The Adriatic Sea separates Italy from the Balkan coast of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.

Q5488.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IEasy

With reference to Foreign Direct Investment in India, which one of the following is considered its major characteristic?

  1. A.It is the investment through capital instruments essentially in a listed company.
  2. B.It is a largely non-debt creating capital flow.
  3. C.It is the investment which involves debt-servicing.
  4. D.It is the investment made by foreign institutional investors in the Government securities.
Show answer
Correct answer: B. It is a largely non-debt creating capital flow.

FDI comes in as equity ownership, so India does not have to repay it with interest. Under Indian rules, FDI is investment by a person resident outside India in an unlisted company, or in ten per cent or more of the paid-up equity of a listed company.

Q5489.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. A.The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
  2. B.The Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.
  3. C.The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
  4. D.Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

The All India Congress Committee passed it at its Bombay session on 8 August 1942. The meeting was held at Gowalia Tank Maidan, now called August Kranti Maidan, in Bombay.

Q5490.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics:

1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast.

2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut.

3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Probiotics include both bacteria and yeasts, and some of them help break down lactose, the sugar in milk. Probiotics are live microorganisms that give a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.

Q5491.Books & AuthorsAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:

Literary work : Author

1. Devichandragupta : Bilhana

2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri

3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna

4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.Only three
  4. D.All four
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Only two

Pairs 2 and 4 are right; pairs 1 and 3 name the wrong authors. The Hammira-Mahakavya, a Sanskrit poem on the Chauhan ruler Hammira of Ranthambore, was written by the Jain poet Nayachandra Suri in the fifteenth century.

Q5492.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Syndicated lending spreads the risk of borrower default across multiple lenders.

Statement-II: The syndicated loan can be a fixed amount/lump sum of funds, but cannot be a credit line.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  2. B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  3. C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

A syndicate shares the default risk, and a syndicated facility can be either a term loan or a credit line.

Q5493.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct?

1. It is a part of the Human Genome Project.

2. The project is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

3. Its primary aim is to build a catalogue of genetic diversity of the Indian population.

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

GenomeIndia is India's own national programme, paid for by the Department of Biotechnology, and its goal is a reference catalogue of Indian genetic variation.

Q5496.NationalMedium

What are the route length and the cost of the USBRL project?

  1. A.272 km at Rs 43,780 crore
  2. B.119 km at Rs 6,808 crore
  3. C.216 km at Rs 2,700 crore
  4. D.190 km at Rs 1,677 crore
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 272 km at Rs 43,780 crore

That is the length and the cost of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link, which was inaugurated in June 2025 and spreads over the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla.

Q5498.Banking & FinanceHard

Which Union Budget speech said the Government would consider reducing its stake in IDBI Bank to below 50 per cent?

  1. A.Union Budget 2016-17
  2. B.Union Budget 2021-22
  3. C.Union Budget 2003
  4. D.Union Budget 2014-15
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Union Budget 2016-17

In paragraph 93 of that speech the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said public sector banks had to be strong and competitive, that the Bank Board Bureau would be made operational in that year, that a roadmap for consolidating public sector banks would be spelt out, that the transformation of…

Q5500.Banking & FinanceMedium

Which court decided All India IDBI Officers' Association versus Union of India and Others, dismissing the challenge to dilution of the Government's stake?

  1. A.Supreme Court of India
  2. B.Delhi High Court
  3. C.Bombay High Court
  4. D.National Company Law Tribunal
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Delhi High Court

According to the clarification, the association of IDBI officers took the shareholding question to the Delhi High Court, which decided the case on 17 December 2018 and dismissed the writ petition.