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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

Q12705.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2018 PMedium

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by the executive order of the Government. 2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country. 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 second statement describes the two bodies correctly while the first gets the origin of the Board wrong, so only statement 2 can be accepted.

Q12706.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · UPSC Civil Services Exam Official 2022 PHard

With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs: Historical person - Known as 1. Aryadeva - Jaina scholar 2. Dignaga - Buddhist scholar 3. Nathamuni - Vaishnava scholar How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Dignaga and Nathamuni are matched rightly while Aryadeva is not, so exactly two pairs are correct.

Q12707.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 PMedium

Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813': 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China. 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company. 3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament. 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: A. 1 and 2 only

The Act of 1813 broke the Company's trade monopoly and asserted the Crown's sovereignty, but left the revenues where they were, so the first two statements stand and the third does not.

Q12708.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2012 PMedium

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? 1. Right of healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21 2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1) 3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A) Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  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: A. 1 only

The National Green Tribunal Act rests on the right to a healthy environment read into the right to life, so only the first provision is in point.

Q12709.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Medium

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

  1. A.peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters
  2. B.its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions
  3. C.national leaders' opposition to the cultivation of indigo
  4. D.Government control over the planters
Show answer
Correct answer: B. its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions

Indigo lost its market when chemists learned to make the dye in a factory, so the Indian crop became unprofitable and cultivation shrank.

Q12710.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 PHard

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection. 2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. 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: D. Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements describe the two offices wrongly, so neither can be accepted.

Q12711.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · UPSC Civil Services Exam (Prelims) 2010Easy

In the parlance of financial investments, the term 'bear' denotes

  1. A.An investor who feels that the price of a particular security is going to fall
  2. B.An investor who expects the price of particular shares to rise
  3. C.A shareholder or a bondholder who has an interest in a company, financial or otherwise
  4. D.Any lender whether by making a loan or buying a bond
Show answer
Correct answer: A. An investor who feels that the price of a particular security is going to fall

A bear expects prices to slide and therefore sells, hoping to buy the same security back cheaper, which is why a falling market is called a bear market.

Q12712.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019 PEasy

In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?

  1. A.The proportion of literates in the population
  2. B.The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines
  3. C.The size of population in the working age group
  4. D.The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society

Social capital means the networks, shared norms and trust that let people in a society work together, so it is measured by relationships rather than by things or numbers of people.

Q12714.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 10 Oct 2021Medium

With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 3. A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Only the first statement holds, so the other combinations fall away. India follows single citizenship and a single domicile, which means a person is a citizen of India alone and not separately of a state, unlike the United States where a citizen also belongs to a state.

Q12715.Art & CultureAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 24 Aug 2014Medium

Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

  1. A.Mimamsa and Vedanta
  2. B.Nyaya and Vaisheshika
  3. C.Lokayata and Kapalika
  4. D.Samkhya and Yoga
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Lokayata and Kapalika

Neither of these belongs to the six orthodox systems, so this is the pair that stands outside. The six systems, called the Shad Darshanas, are Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta, and all six accept the authority of the Vedas.

Q12716.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 10 Oct 2021Medium

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

  1. A.Annie Besant
  2. B.Debendranath Tagore
  3. C.Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Vidyasagar served as the secretary of the Hindu Female School, and the school was renamed after John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, who had founded it in Calcutta in 1849.

Q12717.Indian EconomyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Hard

With reference to Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Quantitative restrictions on imports by foreign investors are prohibited. 2. They apply to investment measures related to trade in both goods and services. 3. They are not concerned with the regulation of foreign investment. 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: C. 1 and 3 only

Statements 1 and 3 hold while statement 2 does not, so this pairing is the right one. The Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures is one of the World Trade Organization agreements that came out of the Uruguay Round in 1995.

Q12718.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Easy

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

  1. A.all political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government
  2. B.the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it
  3. C.the Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them
  4. D.the Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by before completion of a fixed term
Show answer
Correct answer: B. the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it

A parliamentary system rests on the executive answering to the legislature, so the council of ministers stays in office only while it keeps the confidence of the House.

Q12719.Indian PolityAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · UPSC Civil Services Exam (Prelims) 2010Medium

With reference to Lok Adalats, which of the following statements is correct?

  1. A.Lok Adalats have the jurisdiction to settle the matters at pre-litigative stage and not those matters pending before any court
  2. B.Lok Adalats can deal with matters which are civil and not criminal in nature
  3. C.Every Lok Adalat consists of either serving or retired judicial officers only and not any other person
  4. D.None of the statements given above is correct
Show answer
Correct answer: D. None of the statements given above is correct

Every one of the three descriptions gets a detail wrong, so the fourth option is the only one left.

Q12720.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · 2020Hard

Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

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

Mahendravarman I came first, Gopala next, then Bhoja and finally Parantaka I, which is exactly this order. Mahendravarman I ruled the Pallavas of Kanchi in the early seventh century and is remembered for the rock-cut temples at Mandagapattu and for his play Mattavilasa Prahasana.

GK Questions for sub-exams