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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

Q7741.Static GKAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)', consider the following statements :

1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.

2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.

3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 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

The OPCW is the independent global body that implements the Chemical Weapons Convention; it is not an organ of the European Union.

Q7742.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.

2. CAR is decided by each individual bank.

Which of the statements given above 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: A. 1 only

CAR is the cushion of a bank's own capital against losses from loans that are not repaid, and its minimum is fixed by the regulator, not by each bank.

Q7743.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs :

Person : Position held

1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : President, All India Liberal Federation

2. K. C. Neogy : Member, The Constituent Assembly

3. P. C. Joshi : General Secretary, Communist Party of India

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

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

Each person held the position shown against his name. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, an eminent lawyer and Moderate, was a leading figure of the All India (National) Liberal Federation formed by Moderates who left the Congress in 1918, and served as its president; he also attended the Round Table Conferences.

Q7744.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IMedium

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference

2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement

3. Acceptance of Gandhiji's suggestion for enquiry into police excesses

4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

The pact invited the Congress to the Round Table Conference, withdrew the emergency ordinances and released non-violent prisoners, but it did not grant an enquiry into police excesses.

Q7745.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements :

1. It is a product of oil refineries.

2. Some industries use it to generate power.

3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment.

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: D. 1, 2 and 3

Furnace oil is a heavy refinery product, it is burnt by industry for heat and power, and its high sulphur content makes it a polluting fuel.

Q7746.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha ?

1. To ratify the declaration of Emergency

2. To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers

3. To impeach the President of India

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  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

Only the Lok Sabha can pass a no-confidence motion, because the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to it under Article 75(3).

Q7748.GeographyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following pairs :

Community sometimes mentioned in the news : In the affairs of

1. Kurd : Bangladesh

2. Madhesi : Nepal

3. Rohingya : Myanmar

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

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

The Madhesis belong to Nepal and the Rohingya to Myanmar, while the Kurds have nothing to do with Bangladesh. The Madhesis are the people of the Terai plains of southern Nepal, close to the Indian border, with strong ties of language and kinship to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Q7750.Banking & Financial AwarenessAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IEasy

Which one of the following links all the ATMs in India ?

  1. A.Indian Banks' Association
  2. B.National Securities Depository Limited
  3. C.National Payments Corporation of India
  4. D.Reserve Bank of India
Show answer
Correct answer: C. National Payments Corporation of India

NPCI runs the National Financial Switch (NFS), the network that connects the ATMs of banks across India. The National Financial Switch lets a customer of one bank withdraw cash or check a balance at another bank's ATM.

Q7751.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper IHard

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements :

1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of 'indentured labour'.

2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.

3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 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

Gandhi did campaign to end indentured labour, and the Congress was outlawed after the Salt Satyagraha, but he supported the recruitment resolution at the War Conference.

Q7752.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?

1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.

2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.

3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.

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: B. 2 and 3 only

Copper smelting is a concern for its sulphur dioxide emissions and for heavy metals leaching from its slag, not for lethal carbon monoxide.

Q7753.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements :

1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister.

2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Which of the statements given above 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

The 15 percent ceiling is in the Constitution, but the ranks of ministers are not.

Q7755.General ScienceAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IEasy

Consider the following plants:

1. Groundnut

2. Horse-gram

3. Soybean

How many of the above belong to the pea family?

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

Groundnut, horse-gram and soybean are all legumes of the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), the pea family. Members of the pea family bear their seeds in pods and carry root nodules in which Rhizobium bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Q7757.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2026, GS Paper IMedium

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the :

  1. A.Agra Gharana
  2. B.Gwalior Gharana
  3. C.Patiala Gharana
  4. D.Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana

Mallikarjun Mansur (1910–1992) of Dharwad was one of the leading Khayal singers of this gharana. The Jaipur-Atrauli gharana was founded by Ustad Alladiya Khan in the late nineteenth century.

Q7758.Science & TechnologyHard

Which two processes were combined in the new filter to break down dyes?

  1. A.Adsorption and flocculation
  2. B.Photocatalysis and piezocatalysis
  3. C.Sedimentation and biological treatment
  4. D.Reverse osmosis and chlorination
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Photocatalysis and piezocatalysis

The filter breaks down dyes using light and mechanical vibration at the same time. The vibrations create a piezoelectric polarisation in the material, which holds back the recombination of the electrons and holes generated by light and therefore raises the formation of reactive species that attack dye molecules.

Q7759.Science & TechnologyMedium

How much methylene blue did the new membrane decolorise under combined light and ultrasonic excitation?

  1. A.71 per cent in 120 minutes
  2. B.75 per cent in 60 minutes
  3. C.96.7 per cent in 120 minutes
  4. D.98.6 per cent in 120 minutes
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 98.6 per cent in 120 minutes

Under light and ultrasonic excitation applied together, the membrane of polylactic acid and zinc oxide removed the colour of 98.6 per cent of methylene blue in that time.

Q7760.Science & TechnologyMedium

Which natural material was used to synthesise the zinc oxide nanoparticles in this work?

  1. A.Neem leaf extract
  2. B.Turmeric extract
  3. C.Tulsi extract
  4. D.Banana peel extract
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Turmeric extract

The nanoparticles were synthesised in the laboratory of Aviru Kumar Basu using an extract of turmeric, in which naturally occurring compounds such as curcumin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds worked as the reducing and stabilising agents.

GK Questions for sub-exams