The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest exams in India. A strong grasp of General Knowledge (GK) is essential to crack the Prelims, Mains, and Interview rounds. This article provides 50+ must-know UPSC GK questions with answers covering history, geography, polity, economy, science, and current affairs.
History GK Questions for UPSC
Q1: Who was the first Governor-General of India?
A: Warren Hastings
Q2: In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
A: 1757
Q3: Who is known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”?
A: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Q4: Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire?
A: Babur
Q5: What was the capital of British India before Delhi?
A: Calcutta (now Kolkata)
Q6: Which movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930?
A: The Civil Disobedience Movement (Dandi March)
Q7: When did India become a Republic?
A: 26th January 1950
Q8: Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize?
A: Rabindranath Tagore (1913, Literature)
Q9: Who was the first female ruler of India?
A: Razia Sultana
Q10: What was the original name of Swami Vivekananda?
A: Narendranath Datta
Geography GK Questions for UPSC
Q11: Which is the longest river in India?
A: Ganga River
Q12: What is the highest mountain peak in India?
A: Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters)
Q13: Which Indian state shares the longest border with Bangladesh?
A: West Bengal
Q14: What is the largest desert in the world?
A: Antarctic Desert
Q15: Which is the smallest state in India by area?
A: Goa
Q16: What is the capital of Lakshadweep?
A: Kavaratti
Q17: Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
A: Kosi River
Q18: Which Indian city is known as the “Silicon Valley of India”?
A: Bengaluru
Q19: What is the southernmost point of India?
A: Indira Point
Q20: The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
A: Eight states
Indian Polity & Governance GK Questions for UPSC
Q21: How many fundamental rights are there in the Indian Constitution?
A: Six
Q22: What is the tenure of the President of India?
A: 5 years
Q23: Who appoints the Chief Justice of India?
A: The President of India
Q24: What is the minimum age to become a Rajya Sabha member?
A: 30 years
Q25: Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with Emergency Provisions?
A: Articles 352 to 360
Q26: Who is the current Chief Election Commissioner of India?
A: (Check the latest update for the current CEC)
Q27: How many Lok Sabha seats are there in India?
A: 543
Q28: What is the total number of High Courts in India?
A: 25 (as of 2024, check for updates)
Q29: Who was the first Chief Minister of independent India?
A: Govind Ballabh Pant (Uttar Pradesh)
Q30: Which constitutional amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
A: 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016
Indian Economy GK Questions for UPSC
Q31: What is the full form of GDP?
A: Gross Domestic Product
Q32: Who is known as the “Father of Indian Planning”?
A: M. Visvesvaraya
Q33: Which bank is called the “Bankers’ Bank” in India?
A: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Q34: What is the current base year for calculating India’s GDP?
A: 2011-12
Q35: What does “Repo Rate” mean?
A: The interest rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks
Q36: What is the currency of Japan?
A: Japanese Yen (¥)
Q37: Which is the largest stock exchange in India?
A: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
Science & Technology GK Questions for UPSC
Q38: Who is known as the “Missile Man of India”?
A: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Q39: What is the SI unit of force?
A: Newton (N)
Q40: What is the chemical formula of water?
A: H₂O
Q41: Who invented the telephone?
A: Alexander Graham Bell
Q42: What is the largest organ in the human body?
A: Skin
Q43: Which Indian space mission successfully landed on the Moon in 2023?
A: Chandrayaan-3
Q44: What is the full form of ISRO?
A: Indian Space Research Organisation
Q45: What is the name of the fastest land animal?
A: Cheetah
Current Affairs & General Awareness GK Questions for UPSC
Q46: Who is the current Prime Minister of India?
A: Narendra Modi (As of 2024, check for updates)
Q47: Which country hosted the G20 Summit in 2023?
A: India
Q48: Who is the Director-General of WHO?
A: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (As of 2024, check for updates)
Q49: What is the capital of Ukraine?
A: Kyiv
Q50: What does NASA stand for?
A: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Q51: What is the name of the spacecraft that landed on the Moon in India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission?
A: Vikram Lander
Q52: Which country has the highest population in the world?
A: India (as of 2023, surpassing China)
Final Thoughts
Mastering General Knowledge (GK) is essential for success in UPSC Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. Regularly practicing static GK, current affairs, and conceptual questions will boost your UPSC preparation and increase your chances of success.
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