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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

Q961.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

The basic structure doctrine with regard to the Constitution of India relates to 1. the power of judicial review 2. the judgment in Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) 3. the constraints on Article 368 of the Constitution of India 4. the judgment in Golaknath case (1967) Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

The basic structure doctrine was laid down in Kesavananda Bharati, limits Parliament's power under Article 368, and works through judicial review; Golaknath was a different, earlier ruling.

Q963.Static GKAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2018, GKHard

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. A.India joined MTCR in 2016.
  2. B.India submitted a formal application for membership of the NSG in 2016.
  3. C.India proposed the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in 1996.
  4. D.The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in 2016 at Malta.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in 2016 at Malta.

The CHOGM in Malta was held in November 2015, not 2016, and no CHOGM took place in 2016. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is normally held every two years.

Q964.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2019, GKHard

Which one of the following is not correct about Sargasso Sea?

  1. A.It is characterized with anticyclonic circulation of ocean currents.
  2. B.It records the highest salinity in Atlantic Ocean.
  3. C.It is located west of Gulf Stream and east of Canary Current.
  4. D.It confined in gyre of calm and motionless water.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. It is located west of Gulf Stream and east of Canary Current.

The location is reversed: the Sargasso Sea lies east of the Gulf Stream and west of the Canary Current, not the other way round.

Q965.Indian PolityAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following are the powers of the Supreme Court of India? 1. Original jurisdiction in a dispute between the Government of India and one or more States 2. The power to hear appeals from the High Courts 3. Passing decrees and orders for doing justice in any matter before it 4. Render advice to the President of India in matters of law Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Each of the four is a power the Constitution gives the Supreme Court. Article 131 gives the Supreme Court original and exclusive jurisdiction in disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between States.

Q967.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKMedium

Which of the following statements associated with cancer is/are correct ? 1. Oncogenes expression and some viral infections can cause cancer 2. In metastasis, the cancer cells spread through the blood and lymphatic system 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

Both statements describe how cancer starts and how it spreads, and both are correct. Cancer is uncontrolled division of cells.

Q968.Summits & ConferencesMedium

Who is the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education?

  1. A.Dr Himanshu Pathak
  2. B.Dr Ismahane Elouafi
  3. C.Dr M L Jat
  4. D.Dr Trilochan Mohapatra
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Dr M L Jat

While announcing the event he recalled the association of more than five decades between India and CGIAR and said the Indian priority would be South-South cooperation and the sharing of farm innovations with the Global South, especially African countries.

Q971.InternationalMedium

Who co-chaired the 19th India-BLEU Joint Economic Commission on behalf of India?

  1. A.The Foreign Secretary
  2. B.The Finance Secretary
  3. C.Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal
  4. D.The Commerce and Industry Minister
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal

He led the Indian side at the session in Luxembourg on 29 October 2026 and shared the chair with Filip Vanden Bulcke, Director-General for Geo-Economy and Economic Diplomacy in Belgium, and Henri Schumacher, Secretary General of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

Q972.InternationalMedium

In the India-BLEU Joint Economic Commission, what does the abbreviation BLEU stand for?

  1. A.Baltic and Levant Economic Union
  2. B.Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
  3. C.Belarus-Lithuania Economic Union
  4. D.Benelux Labour and Enterprise Union
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union

The union ties the two neighbouring countries into one economic arrangement, and India engages with them jointly through a Joint Economic Commission whose nineteenth session met in Luxembourg on 29 October 2026.

Q974.Government SchemesEasy

Which department conducts the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign for pensioners?

  1. A.Department of Posts
  2. B.Department of Financial Services
  3. C.Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare
  4. D.Department of Telecommunications
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

It notified the guidelines for the drive in an office memorandum dated 13 August 2026 and it is running the fifth edition from 1 to 30 November 2026.

Q979.General ScienceAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2020, GKEasy

The valency of phosphorus is

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

Phosphorus has five electrons in its outer shell and shows two common valencies, 3 and 5. Phosphorus, atomic number 15, has the electronic configuration 2, 8, 5.

Q980.Sports GKAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which of the following statements about the ICC under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, 2024 is/are correct? 1. Australia won this title for the 4th time. 2. It was organised in South Africa. 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

Australia beat India in the final at Benoni, South Africa, in February 2024 to win their fourth Under-19 title. The 2024 tournament was first allotted to Sri Lanka but was moved to South Africa by the ICC.