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)
- Who will host the G20 Summit in 2025?
✅ Answer: South Africa - Which Indian state topped the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2024?
✅ Answer: To be announced - Who is the current Chief Justice of India?
✅ Answer: To be updated in 2024 - What is the theme of World Environment Day 2024?
✅ Answer: To be announced - Who won the Nobel Peace Prize 2024?
✅ Answer: To be updated
2. Indian History
- Who was the first Governor-General of British India?
✅ Answer: Lord William Bentinck - Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
✅ Answer: Lord Dalhousie - What was the main objective of the Quit India Movement (1942)?
✅ Answer: To demand an end to British rule in India - Who was the first Indian to win the Bharat Ratna?
✅ Answer: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - Which Mughal ruler built the Taj Mahal?
✅ Answer: Shah Jahan
3. Indian Geography
- Which is the longest river in India?
✅ Answer: Ganga - Which Indian state has the highest forest cover?
✅ Answer: Madhya Pradesh - Which is the largest saltwater lake in India?
✅ Answer: Chilika Lake (Odisha) - What is the southernmost point of India called?
✅ Answer: Indira Point (Nicobar Islands) - Which mountain range separates North India from South India?
✅ Answer: Vindhya Range
4. Indian Polity & Governance
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties?
✅ Answer: Article 51A - Who is the head of the Rajya Sabha?
✅ Answer: Vice President of India - Which constitutional amendment made Right to Education a Fundamental Right?
✅ Answer: 86th Amendment Act, 2002 - What is the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner of India?
✅ Answer: 6 years or up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier - How many seats are there in Lok Sabha?
✅ Answer: 543
5. Indian Economy
- What is the full form of GDP?
✅ Answer: Gross Domestic Product - Which organization releases the Economic Survey of India?
✅ Answer: Ministry of Finance - What is the full form of GST?
✅ Answer: Goods and Services Tax - Which organization regulates India’s banking system?
✅ Answer: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) - 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
- Who is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Space Program’?
✅ Answer: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - What is the chemical symbol for Gold?
✅ Answer: Au - Which is the first artificial satellite launched by India?
✅ Answer: Aryabhata (1975) - What is the smallest unit of life?
✅ Answer: Cell - Which mission took the first human to the Moon?
✅ Answer: Apollo 11
7. Environment & Ecology
- Which is the largest tiger reserve in India?
✅ Answer: Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana) - What is the full form of UNEP?
✅ Answer: United Nations Environment Programme - Who led the Chipko Movement?
✅ Answer: Sundarlal Bahuguna - What is the Green Revolution associated with?
✅ Answer: Increase in agricultural production through technology - Name a critically endangered species in India.
✅ Answer: Great Indian Bustard
8. International Relations & Organizations
- Where is the headquarters of the United Nations (UN)?
✅ Answer: New York, USA - What is the full form of NATO?
✅ Answer: North Atlantic Treaty Organization - Which country recently joined the BRICS group?
✅ Answer: To be updated in 2024 - How many countries are members of the World Bank?
✅ Answer: 189 - What is the main purpose of the G7 Summit?
✅ Answer: Discussing global economic policies
9. Sports & Awards
- Who won the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup?
✅ Answer: Australia - Which Indian was the first to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event?
✅ Answer: Abhinav Bindra (2008) - What is the highest sporting honor in India?
✅ Answer: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award - Which city hosted the 2024 Olympics?
✅ Answer: Paris, France - Who won the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
✅ Answer: Lionel Messi
10. Art, Culture & Literature
- Which is the oldest classical dance form in India?
✅ Answer: Bharatanatyam - Who wrote ‘Ramcharitmanas’?
✅ Answer: Tulsidas - Which Indian festival is known as the Festival of Lights?
✅ Answer: Diwali - What is the national animal of India?
✅ Answer: Bengal Tiger - 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! 🚀