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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

Q5761.Science & TechnologyMedium

In which period was India's space sector opened to private participation, as recalled by the Minister?

  1. A.2014-2015
  2. B.2016-2017
  3. C.2019-2020
  4. D.2022-2023
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2019-2020

The Minister said the space sector was thrown open to private participation in 2019-2020 and that the five to six years since have already produced significant results, which is why the focus has shifted to building globally competitive commercial companies.

Q5762.Science & TechnologyEasy

What size is India's space economy expected to reach over the next seven to eight years?

  1. A.USD 15-20 billion
  2. B.USD 40-45 billion
  3. C.USD 90-100 billion
  4. D.USD 5-9 billion
Show answer
Correct answer: B. USD 40-45 billion

Dr Jitendra Singh told the roundtable that the Indian space economy, valued at roughly USD 9 billion at present, is expected to climb to USD 40-45 billion over the next seven to eight years as private capital, assured demand and quicker regulatory clearances take hold.

Q5765.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2024, GATMedium

Which statement is NOT correct with reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

  1. A.Climate is humid, tropical coastal climate
  2. B.Maximum rainfall occurs between March and April
  3. C.Andaman and Nicobar islands are separated by 10 degree Channel which is 150 Km wide
  4. D.Islands are inhabited by Negrito tribes
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Maximum rainfall occurs between March and April

The islands get most of their rain from the south-west monsoon, from about May to September, with more from the north-east monsoon later; March and April are among the driest months.

Q5766.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2019, GATMedium

Who was the author of the book 'History of British India'?

  1. A.Charles Grant
  2. B.John Stuart Mill
  3. C.James Mill
  4. D.William Jones
Show answer
Correct answer: C. James Mill

The Scottish historian and philosopher James Mill published 'The History of British India' in three volumes in 1817. Mill wrote the work without ever visiting India or knowing an Indian language, and he judged Indian society as backward and in need of reform by British law and government.

Q5768.GeographyAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2024, GATHard

Consider the following statements regarding 'fronts' : 1. The movement of a front causes a slow change in weather in the area over which it moves. 2. Cold fronts are associated with thunderstorms. 3. Warm front is the boundary between an advancing mass of warm air where it is overriding and rising above a mass of colder air. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Fronts bring abrupt, not slow, changes in weather, so statement 1 is wrong while 2 and 3 are right. A front is the boundary zone where two air masses of different temperature and density meet, mostly in the middle latitudes.

Q5770.EnvironmentHard

According to the Union Environment Minister, what is essential for identifying malpractices in industrial emission reporting?

  1. A.Integration of OCEMS data with plant-operation data
  2. B.Raising the fee charged for PUC certificates
  3. C.A complete shutdown of diesel generators in Delhi-NCR
  4. D.Weekly manual inspection of every industrial unit
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Integration of OCEMS data with plant-operation data

Pressing for enforcement that leans on technology, Shri Bhupender Yadav said that joining the readings of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems to data on how a plant is actually being operated is essential if malpractices are to be identified, and that artificial intelligence can play an important part in achieving…

Q5772.EnvironmentMedium

Under which campaign theme was the Environment Ministry's interaction with air-pollution start-ups held?

  1. A.Saaf Hawa mein Hissedaari, Hum Sabhi ki hai Zimmedaari
  2. B.Swachh Vayu, Swasth Jeevan
  3. C.Mera Shehar, Meri Hawa
  4. D.Hawa Badlo, Desh Badlo
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Saaf Hawa mein Hissedaari, Hum Sabhi ki hai Zimmedaari

The interaction of 17 October 2026 between the Union Environment Minister and start-ups was one of a series of stakeholder engagements carried out under that campaign theme, which places a share of the responsibility for clean air on every citizen.

Q5773.EnvironmentEasy

Who held the interaction with start-ups on affordable, scalable solutions for air pollution in Delhi-NCR on 17 October 2026?

  1. A.Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh
  2. B.Shri Bhupender Yadav
  3. C.Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa
  4. D.The Chairperson of CAQM
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Shri Bhupender Yadav

The correct answer is Shri Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who met start-ups and innovation companies working on air pollution mitigation and himself put a set of problem statements covering nine key areas before them.

Q5774.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.

Q5775.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.

Q5776.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.

Q5778.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.

Q5779.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.

Q5780.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.

GK Questions for sub-exams