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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

Q121.NationalMedium

Roughly how much office space did the Ministry of Steel free during SCDPM 6 through disposal of scrap, e-waste and redundant files?

  1. A.About 17,501 square feet
  2. B.About 21,164 square feet
  3. C.About 7,501 square feet
  4. D.About 1,750 square feet
Show answer
Correct answer: A. About 17,501 square feet

The ministry reported that approximately this much office space was released during the campaign by clearing scrap, electronic waste and files that were no longer required.

Q122.NationalMedium

How many physical files were reviewed by the Ministry of Steel during SCDPM 6, and what share of the target did this represent?

  1. A.17,107 files, 95 per cent of target
  2. B.21,164 files, 101 per cent of target
  3. C.17,501 files, 100 per cent of target
  4. D.12,164 files, 110 per cent of target
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 21,164 files, 101 per cent of target

The ministry reviewed that many physical files during the campaign and recorded the achievement slightly above the number planned, which is why it is reported as 101 per cent of the set target.

Q123.NationalEasy

The Ministry of Steel conducted the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 6 during which period?

  1. A.1 to 30 September 2026
  2. B.2 to 31 October 2026
  3. C.15 October to 15 November 2026
  4. D.2 to 31 August 2026
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 2 to 31 October 2026

The Ministry of Steel conducted SCDPM 6 across that month-long window along with the Central Public Sector Enterprises under it, with the campaign directed at streamlining governance through the effective disposal of pending matters and at promoting cleanliness and efficiency in official functioning.

Q124.DefenceMedium

Who, as Chief of the Air Staff, was present during the Defence Minister's interaction at Air Force Station, Bagdogra?

  1. A.Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
  2. B.Air Commodore Manish Sharma
  3. C.Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
  4. D.Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

The correct answer is Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who was present in his capacity as Chief of the Air Staff when the Defence Minister interacted with Indian Air Force personnel at Air Force Station, Bagdogra on the eve of Diwali.

Q125.DefenceMedium

Which three capabilities did the Defence Minister ask the armed forces to strengthen in order to counter emerging security threats?

  1. A.Domain awareness, cyber resilience and information integrity
  2. B.Nuclear deterrence, sea denial and air superiority
  3. C.Logistics, recruitment and veteran welfare
  4. D.Space launch, satellite imaging and navigation
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Domain awareness, cyber resilience and information integrity

Speaking to Air Warriors at Bagdogra, the Defence Minister called upon the forces to maintain the highest level of operational readiness with special focus on exactly these three strengths, because the security landscape has become increasingly complex and warfare now extends beyond conventional engagements along the borders into asymmetric warfare…

Q126.DefenceMedium

Under the 'Second Tour of Duty' approved by the Union Cabinet, what opportunity will Agniveers get after completing their engagement period?

  1. A.Automatic commission as officers
  2. B.Enrolment as regular soldiers, subject to willingness and selection criteria
  3. C.Compulsory transfer to central armed police forces
  4. D.A lifelong pension without further service
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Enrolment as regular soldiers, subject to willingness and selection criteria

The Defence Minister explained that on completing the two-year engagement period, all Agniveers will get an opportunity to be enrolled as regular soldiers, provided they are willing and provided they meet the laid-down selection criteria.

Q128.EnvironmentHard

Since ethanol supply year 2014-15, how much foreign exchange has the ethanol blending programme saved?

  1. A.More than Rs 62,000 crore
  2. B.More than Rs 1.01 lakh crore
  3. C.More than Rs 1.66 lakh crore
  4. D.More than Rs 1.97 lakh crore
Show answer
Correct answer: D. More than Rs 1.97 lakh crore

The ministry listed four cumulative outcomes of the blending programme since ethanol supply year 2014-15: foreign exchange savings above that amount, substitution of about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, avoidance of about 952 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, and transfers of more than Rs 1.66 lakh crore…

Q131.EnvironmentEasy

How many E20 petrol samples were tested and found compliant across 27 States and Union Territories?

  1. A.456 samples
  2. B.893 samples
  3. C.1,250 samples
  4. D.2,393 samples
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 893 samples

Under the Quality Coordination Cell exercise of the oil marketing companies and the Centre for High Technology, 893 E20 samples were drawn from depots and retail outlets in 27 States and Union Territories and tested for ethanol content, and every one of them fell inside the prescribed band of 19…

Q132.EconomyMedium

What was the theme of the 14th India Chem 2026 held in Mumbai?

  1. A.Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub
  2. B.Chemicals for a Viksit Bharat
  3. C.Green Chemistry, Green Growth
  4. D.Make in India, Mix in India
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub

The 14th edition of India Chem was organised in Mumbai from 22 to 24 October 2026 as a three-day event aimed at drawing investment and promoting sustainable growth in chemicals and petrochemicals.

Q136.InternationalMedium

Which of the following is NOT one of the Pillar II thematic clusters of Horizon Europe named as matching India's research priorities?

  1. A.Health
  2. B.Climate, energy and mobility
  3. C.Defence procurement and arms exports
  4. D.Food and the bioeconomy
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Defence procurement and arms exports

The clusters listed under Pillar II of Horizon Europe in the announcement are health; digital technologies, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food and the bioeconomy.

Q139.DefenceEasy

The MoA signed by the IAF Software Development Institute with IIT Madras in November 2026 is meant to develop:

  1. A.An indigenous fighter jet engine
  2. B.An indigenous digital secure communication system for airborne applications
  3. C.A satellite navigation system for aircraft
  4. D.A training simulator for pilots
Show answer
Correct answer: B. An indigenous digital secure communication system for airborne applications

Under the Memorandum of Agreement, the IAF's Software Development Institute, IIT Madras and the IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation will jointly design and develop such a system, working on advanced algorithms for communication systems and networking.