50+ Must-Know General Awareness Questions for UPSC Success

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest competitive exams in India. To crack it, aspirants must have a strong grip on General Awareness (GA), which covers history, geography, polity, economy, science, technology, current affairs, and more.

To help you prepare for UPSC 2025, we have compiled 50+ must-know General Awareness questions that will boost your knowledge and improve your chances of success.


Why is General Awareness Important for UPSC?

Prelims (General Studies Paper 1) – Includes a major portion of General Knowledge & Current Affairs.
Mains (General Studies & Essay Papers) – Helps in writing well-informed, analytical answers.
Interview (Personality Test) – General Awareness is crucial for facing questions on current events, government policies, and world affairs.

A strong General Awareness foundation gives you a significant edge in the UPSC 2025 examination.


50+ Must-Know General Awareness Questions for UPSC

1. Current Affairs (National & International)

  1. Who will host the G20 Summit in 2025?
    Answer: South Africa
  2. Which Indian state topped the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2024?
    Answer: To be announced
  3. Who is the current Chief Justice of India?
    Answer: To be updated in 2024
  4. What is the theme of World Environment Day 2024?
    Answer: To be announced
  5. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize 2024?
    Answer: To be updated

2. Indian History

  1. Who was the first Governor-General of British India?
    Answer: Lord William Bentinck
  2. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
    Answer: Lord Dalhousie
  3. What was the main objective of the Quit India Movement (1942)?
    Answer: To demand an end to British rule in India
  4. Who was the first Indian to win the Bharat Ratna?
    Answer: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  5. Which Mughal ruler built the Taj Mahal?
    Answer: Shah Jahan

3. Indian Geography

  1. Which is the longest river in India?
    Answer: Ganga
  2. Which Indian state has the highest forest cover?
    Answer: Madhya Pradesh
  3. Which is the largest saltwater lake in India?
    Answer: Chilika Lake (Odisha)
  4. What is the southernmost point of India called?
    Answer: Indira Point (Nicobar Islands)
  5. Which mountain range separates North India from South India?
    Answer: Vindhya Range

4. Indian Polity & Governance

  1. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties?
    Answer: Article 51A
  2. Who is the head of the Rajya Sabha?
    Answer: Vice President of India
  3. Which constitutional amendment made Right to Education a Fundamental Right?
    Answer: 86th Amendment Act, 2002
  4. What is the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
    Answer: 6 years or up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
  5. How many seats are there in Lok Sabha?
    Answer: 543

5. Indian Economy

  1. What is the full form of GDP?
    Answer: Gross Domestic Product
  2. Which organization releases the Economic Survey of India?
    Answer: Ministry of Finance
  3. What is the full form of GST?
    Answer: Goods and Services Tax
  4. Which organization regulates India’s banking system?
    Answer: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  5. What is the meaning of ‘Fiscal Deficit’?
    Answer: The difference between the government’s total expenditure and its total revenue (excluding borrowings)

6. Science & Technology

  1. Who is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Space Program’?
    Answer: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
  2. What is the chemical symbol for Gold?
    Answer: Au
  3. Which is the first artificial satellite launched by India?
    Answer: Aryabhata (1975)
  4. What is the smallest unit of life?
    Answer: Cell
  5. Which mission took the first human to the Moon?
    Answer: Apollo 11

7. Environment & Ecology

  1. Which is the largest tiger reserve in India?
    Answer: Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
  2. What is the full form of UNEP?
    Answer: United Nations Environment Programme
  3. Who led the Chipko Movement?
    Answer: Sundarlal Bahuguna
  4. What is the Green Revolution associated with?
    Answer: Increase in agricultural production through technology
  5. Name a critically endangered species in India.
    Answer: Great Indian Bustard

8. International Relations & Organizations

  1. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations (UN)?
    Answer: New York, USA
  2. What is the full form of NATO?
    Answer: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  3. Which country recently joined the BRICS group?
    Answer: To be updated in 2024
  4. How many countries are members of the World Bank?
    Answer: 189
  5. What is the main purpose of the G7 Summit?
    Answer: Discussing global economic policies

9. Sports & Awards

  1. Who won the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup?
    Answer: Australia
  2. Which Indian was the first to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event?
    Answer: Abhinav Bindra (2008)
  3. What is the highest sporting honor in India?
    Answer: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
  4. Which city hosted the 2024 Olympics?
    Answer: Paris, France
  5. Who won the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
    Answer: Lionel Messi

10. Art, Culture & Literature

  1. Which is the oldest classical dance form in India?
    Answer: Bharatanatyam
  2. Who wrote ‘Ramcharitmanas’?
    Answer: Tulsidas
  3. Which Indian festival is known as the Festival of Lights?
    Answer: Diwali
  4. What is the national animal of India?
    Answer: Bengal Tiger
  5. Which state is famous for the Hornbill Festival?
    Answer: Nagaland

Final Words

Regularly practicing General Awareness questions is crucial for cracking UPSC 2025. Use these 50+ must-know questions to test and improve your knowledge.

📚 Best of luck for UPSC 2025! 🚀

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