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UPSC GK Questions 2026

Static general knowledge is the larger part of every UPSC general studies paper. The notices name the same areas again and again: the history of India and the national movement, Indian and world geography, polity and the Constitution, the economy and social development, and general science with environment and ecology. The balance shifts from exam to exam. NDA puts about half of its General Knowledge part on Physics, Chemistry and General Science. CSE favours polity, modern history, environment and the economy. CAPF adds security and human rights, and CDS spreads its questions across polity, history, geography, the economy and school science.

GK24's GK notes are written topic by topic in English and Hindi, as short, fact-first chapters that are easy to revise. They cover Indian Polity, Indian History, Geography, Indian Economy, General Science, Environment and Ecology, Art and Culture, Computer, and the fact lists of awards, sports, books and days. A new chapter is added in each subject as the series grows. Each note carries practice questions, and those that have appeared in an exam say which exam and year. Start with Polity and modern history, then Geography, the Economy and Science. Read a note, take its topic quiz, and come back to it in your monthly revision.

UPSC GK Questions with Answers

Q5361.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IEasy

The terms 'Event Horizon', 'Singularity', 'String Theory' and 'Standard Model' are sometimes seen in the news in the context of

  1. A.Observation and understanding of the Universe
  2. B.Study of the solar and the lunar eclipses
  3. C.Placing satellites in the orbit of the Earth
  4. D.Origin and evolution of living organisms on the Earth
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Observation and understanding of the Universe

All four terms come from physics and cosmology, the study of how the universe and its matter work. An event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape.

Q5362.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.

2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.

3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.

4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Tyagaraja created several new ragas, and Annamacharya's kirtanas praise Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. Tyagaraja (1767–1847) of Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu is one of the Trinity of Carnatic music, with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri.

Q5363.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

  1. A.Recently discovered uranium deposits
  2. B.Tropical rain forests
  3. C.Underground cave systems
  4. D.Water reservoirs
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Water reservoirs

Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati are all dams with reservoirs built for irrigation in different parts of India. The Aliyar dam stands on the Aliyar river near Pollachi in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, at the foot of the Anamalai hills, and is part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar project.

Q5364.Important Days & DatesAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.

2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

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: B. 2 only

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO, not UNICEF, while the demand for Bangla as a national language was indeed raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly.

Q5365.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IHard

In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m³ and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

The 2021 WHO guidelines set PM2.5 at 15 µg/m³ for a 24-hour mean and 5 µg/m³ for the annual mean, and ground-level ozone is a known trigger of asthma attacks.

Q5366.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements :

1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed.

2. Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.

3. Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Only statement 2 is correct: the biofilter's job in a Recirculating Aquaculture System is to turn toxic ammonia into much less harmful nitrate.

Q5367.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IEasy

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

  1. A.India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
  2. B.India to Central Asia via China
  3. C.India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
  4. D.India to Europe through Azerbaijan
Show answer
Correct answer: A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

The INSTC links Indian ports by sea to Iran and then by rail and road northwards to Central Asia, Russia and on to Europe.

Q5368.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India :

1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House.

2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer.

3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question.

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

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

Statements 1 and 2 swap the meanings of starred and unstarred questions; only statement 3 is right. A starred question, marked with an asterisk, is one to which the Member wants an oral answer on the floor of the House, and supplementary questions may follow it.

Q5378.GeographyAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2017, Paper IHard

As per Census 2011, which one of the following is the correct descending order of States in India in respect of sex ratio (female per thousand of males)?

  1. A.West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Uttarakhand - Jammu and Kashmir
  2. B.Madhya Pradesh - West Bengal - Jammu and Kashmir - Uttarakhand
  3. C.Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
  4. D.West Bengal - Uttarakhand - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Uttarakhand - West Bengal - Madhya Pradesh - Jammu and Kashmir

In Census 2011 their sex ratios were about 963, 950, 931 and 889 females per 1,000 males. Census 2011 put India's overall sex ratio at 943.

Q5379.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IHard

In relation to the powers of the Union Government of India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

  1. A.The Government of India may undertake legislative functions of a territory outside of India by agreement with the Government of that territory
  2. B.The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends
  3. C.The Union Government may direct States for construction and maintenance of means of communication of military importance
  4. D.The Governor may, with consent of Government of India, entrust its officers with functions on matters which fall within the executive power of the State
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Union Government may not entrust a State Government with functions over matters where executive power of the Union extends

It is not correct, because Article 258 expressly lets the President, with a State Government's consent, entrust to it functions on any matter to which the Union's executive power extends.

Q5380.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2021, Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct?

1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed.

2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri.

3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri.

4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true, but in 1585 Akbar moved his capital to Lahore, not back to Agra.

GK Questions for sub-exams