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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

Q5781.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the

  1. A.Federal Legislature
  2. B.Governor General
  3. C.Provincial Legislature
  4. D.Provincial Governors
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Governor General

Section 104 of the Government of India Act, 1935 vested residuary powers in the Governor-General, who could assign a subject to either the Centre or a province.

Q5782.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following pairs:

Glacier : River

1. Bandarpunch : Yamuna

2. Bara Shigri : Chenab

3. Milam : Mandakini

4. Siachen : Nubra

5. Zemu : Manas

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Bandarpunch feeds the Yamuna, Bara Shigri the Chenab and Siachen the Nubra; pairs 3 and 5 are wrong. The Yamunotri glacier, the source of the Yamuna, lies on the western slopes of the Bandarpunch massif in Uttarakhand.

Q5783.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

  1. A.Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
  2. B.Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
  3. C.Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
  4. D.Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Paragana—Sarkar—Suba

From smallest to largest, several parganas made a sarkar and several sarkars made a suba. Under the Mughals, especially after Akbar's reorganisation of 1580, the empire was divided into subas or provinces, each headed by a subedar with a diwan in charge of revenue.

Q5784.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.

2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.

3. Power grids could be damaged.

4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.

5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.

6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.

7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1, 2, 4 and 5 only
  2. B.2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
  3. C.1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
  4. D.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only

A strong solar storm disturbs the Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere, which hits electrical and radio systems, but it cannot cause tsunamis or forest fires.

Q5785.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following information:

Archaeological Site : State : Description

1. Chandraketugarh : Odisha : Trading Port town

2. Inamgaon : Maharashtra : Chalcolithic site

3. Mangadu : Kerala : Megalithic site

4. Salihundam : Andhra Pradesh : Rock-cut cave shrines

In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

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

Inamgaon is a Chalcolithic site in Maharashtra and Mangadu is a megalithic site in Kerala; rows 1 and 4 each have an error.

Q5786.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements:

With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule

I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration

II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor

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: D. Neither I nor II

A Fifth Schedule area stays under the State's executive power, and the Union can only give directions about it, not take over its administration.

Q5787.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.

2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration.

3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission.

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

Samudrayaan is part of the Deep Ocean Mission and its vehicle Matsya-6000 is built to take three people into the deep sea; the mission belongs to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Q5789.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following pairs:

Towns sometimes mentioned in news : Country

1. Aleppo - Syria

2. Kirkuk - Yemen

3. Mosul - Palestine

4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Aleppo is in Syria and Mazar-i-Sharif is in Afghanistan; Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq. Aleppo, in north-western Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and its old city with the citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q5790.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IEasy

Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?

  1. A.China
  2. B.India
  3. C.Myanmar
  4. D.Vietnam
Show answer
Correct answer: B. India

India has been the world's largest rice exporter every year since 2011-12, well ahead of Thailand and Vietnam. India ships both basmati rice, mainly to West Asia, Europe and North America, and non-basmati rice, mainly to Africa and South and South-East Asia.

Q5791.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do?

1. Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio

2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate

3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

An expansionist policy aims to make money cheaper and more plentiful, so the RBI would not raise the Marginal Standing Facility rate, which makes borrowing dearer.

Q5792.Books & AuthorsAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

  1. A.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  2. B.Jawaharlal Nehru
  3. C.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

While held in Yerwada jail, Gandhi translated old Indian hymns and devotional lyrics into English, and these were published as 'Songs from Prison'.

Q5793.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:

1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.

2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.

3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Sputnik V uses adenovirus vectors and Covaxin uses killed (inactivated) virus; Covishield is not an mRNA vaccine. Covishield is the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by the Serum Institute.

Q5794.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.

Q5795.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.

Q5796.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.

Q5797.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.

Q5798.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.

Q5799.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.

Q5800.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.

GK Questions for sub-exams