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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

Q6761.DefenceMedium

What share of the defence modernisation budget has been earmarked for procurement from Indian industry?

  1. A.50 per cent
  2. B.60 per cent
  3. C.75 per cent
  4. D.90 per cent
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 75 per cent

Describing the reforms in defence procurement, the Raksha Mantri said that this share of the modernisation budget has been set aside for buying from Indian industries, and that domestic firms are given priority through the Defence Acquisition Procedure and the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured category.

Q6763.DefenceMedium

According to the Raksha Mantri, India annual defence production has risen to which level?

  1. A.Over Rs 1.78 lakh crore
  2. B.Over Rs 1.25 lakh crore
  3. C.Over Rs 2.45 lakh crore
  4. D.Over Rs 95,000 crore
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Over Rs 1.78 lakh crore

At the Defence Conclave the Raksha Mantri said defence production had reached a record of more than that figure, measured against Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, and that the sector is aiming at Rs 2 lakh crore this year and Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.

Q6764.DefenceEasy

Which of the following is NOT part of the 5D Security Threat named by the Raksha Mantri at the Defence Conclave?

  1. A.Disinformation
  2. B.Deception
  3. C.Deterrence
  4. D.Destabilisation
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Deterrence

Speaking at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh described the security landscape of the digital age as hybrid, high-tech and hyper warfare, and listed a 5D Security Threat made up of disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction.

Q6765.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements :

I. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO2/capita.

II. In terms of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.

III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO2 emissions in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

India is the second-largest emitter of fuel-combustion CO2 in the Asia-Pacific after China, and power and heat generation is its biggest source, but its per capita emissions are well above 0.5 tonne.

Q6766.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IHard

Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India ?

1. Submergence of parts of the western coast due to tectonic activity

2. Presence of residual mountain ranges such as the Veliconda hills and Mahendragiri hills

3. Deep, V-shaped river valleys formed by fast-flowing rivers

Select the answer using the code given below :

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

The Peninsular Block is an old, stable landmass with worn-down residual hills and a western edge that sank along faults, but its rivers flow in broad, shallow valleys.

Q6767.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term 'transcriptome', sometimes seen in the news, refers to

  1. A.a range of enzymes used in genome editing
  2. B.the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism
  3. C.the description of the mechanism of gene expression
  4. D.a mechanism of genetic mutations taking place in cells
Show answer
Correct answer: B. the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism

The transcriptome is the complete set of RNA transcripts, chiefly messenger RNA, made from the genes at a given time.

Q6768.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

The term 'Domestic Content Requirement' is sometimes seen in the news with reference to

  1. A.Developing solar power production in our country
  2. B.Granting licences to foreign T.V. channels in our country
  3. C.Exporting our food products to other countries
  4. D.Permitting foreign educational institutions to set up their campuses in our country
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Developing solar power production in our country

Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) is the rule that certain solar projects must use solar cells and modules made in India.

Q6770.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?

  1. A.Creating the artificial rains in some regions
  2. B.Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones
  3. C.Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth
  4. D.Reducing the global warming
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Reducing the global warming

Both ideas are geoengineering proposals meant to cool the planet by changing how much heat enters or leaves the Earth.

Q6771.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?

1. Cnidarians

2. Fungi

3. Protozoa

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  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: D. 1, 2 and 3

Cnidarians, fungi and protozoa all include species that live in close, mutually useful partnerships with other organisms. Symbiosis means two different species living closely together, often to the benefit of both.

Q6772.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IEasy

The term "Levant" often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions ?

  1. A.Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
  2. B.Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco
  3. C.Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa
  4. D.The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores

The Levant is the land on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia. The word comes from the French 'lever', to rise, meaning the land where the sun rises, as seen from Europe.

Q6773.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper IMedium

Which one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the 'Constitution' of a country?

  1. A.It determines the objective for the making of necessary laws.
  2. B.It enables the creation of political offices and a government.
  3. C.It defines and limits the powers of government.
  4. D.It secures social justice, social equality and social security.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. It defines and limits the powers of government.

The core idea of a constitution is constitutionalism: power is granted to the government, but only within set limits. A constitution sets up the organs of the State and divides power among them, but its chief purpose is to stop that power from becoming arbitrary.

Q6774.Science & TechnologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following aircraft :

1. Rafale

2. MiG-29

3. Tejas MK-1

How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft ?

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

Rafale, MiG-29 and Tejas Mk-1 are all fourth or 4.5 generation fighters; none of them is a fifth-generation aircraft. A fifth-generation fighter is defined by all-aspect stealth, internal weapons bays, supercruise and advanced sensor fusion.

Q6775.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IHard

Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements :

I. It is an omnivorous crustacean.

II. Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas.

III. In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.I only
  2. B.I and II
  3. C.II only
  4. D.II and III
Show answer
Correct answer: D. II and III

The Gooty tarantula is a tree-dwelling spider found only in a few forest patches of India; it is not a crustacean.

Q6776.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate.

2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon.

3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May.

Select the answer using the code given below :

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

The islands have a warm, humid tropical maritime climate and get rain from both monsoons, but December to May is their drier part of the year.

Q6777.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs :

Terms sometimes seen in the news — Their origin

1. Annex-I Countries — Cartagena Protocol

2. Certified Emissions Reductions — Nagoya Protocol

3. Clean Development Mechanism — Kyoto Protocol

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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

All three terms come from the climate treaties, the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, so only the third pair is right.

Q6778.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to

  1. A.Define the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial Governments.
  2. B.Define the powers of the Secretary of State for India.
  3. C.Impose censorship on national press.
  4. D.Improve the relationship between the Government of India and the Indian States.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Improve the relationship between the Government of India and the Indian States.

The Butler Committee was set up to examine the ties between the British paramount power and the princely states. The Indian States Committee was appointed in 1927 under Sir Harcourt Butler, with its report coming in 1929.

Q6779.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements :

1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.

2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.

3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

The Act makes the eldest woman of 18 or above the head of the household for the ration card, but the other two statements misstate it.

Q6780.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IMedium

In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because

  1. A.poverty rates vary from State to State
  2. B.price levels vary from State to State
  3. C.Gross State Product varies from State to State
  4. D.quality of public distribution varies from State to State
Show answer
Correct answer: B. price levels vary from State to State

A poverty line is the money needed to buy a minimum basket of goods, and that basket costs more in some States than in others.

GK Questions for sub-exams