General Knowledge for UPSC: Important Questions & Answers

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts one of the toughest exams in India, and a strong command of General Knowledge (GK) is essential to excel in Prelims, Mains, and the Interview round. The General Studies (GS) paper in the UPSC exam covers history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science, and current affairs.

To help aspirants, we have compiled a list of important General Knowledge questions and answers that are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims and Mains.


History GK Questions for UPSC

Q1: Who was the first Governor-General of India?
A: Warren Hastings

Q2: The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?
A: 1942

Q3: Who is known as the “Architect of the Indian Constitution”?
A: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Q4: In which year did India get independence?
A: 1947

Q5: Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire?
A: Chandragupta Maurya

Q6: Who wrote the famous book Arthashastra?
A: Chanakya (Kautilya)

Q7: Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize?
A: Rabindranath Tagore (1913, Literature)

Q8: Who was the Viceroy of India during the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
A: Lord Chelmsford


Geography GK Questions for UPSC

Q9: What is the longest river in India?
A: Ganga River

Q10: Which is the highest peak in India?
A: Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters)

Q11: Which is the largest desert in India?
A: Thar Desert

Q12: The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
A: Eight states

Q13: Which is the smallest state in India by area?
A: Goa

Q14: Which country shares the longest border with India?
A: Bangladesh

Q15: What is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
A: Port Blair


Indian Polity & Governance GK Questions for UPSC

Q16: How many fundamental rights are there in the Indian Constitution?
A: Six

Q17: What is the tenure of the President of India?
A: 5 years

Q18: Which Article of the Constitution abolishes untouchability?
A: Article 17

Q19: Who was the first female President of India?
A: Pratibha Patil

Q20: Who is the head of the Rajya Sabha?
A: The Vice President of India

Q21: How many Lok Sabha seats are there in India?
A: 543

Q22: Which constitutional amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
A: 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016


Indian Economy GK Questions for UPSC

Q23: What is the full form of GDP?
A: Gross Domestic Product

Q24: Who is known as the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms”?
A: Dr. Manmohan Singh

Q25: What does “Fiscal Deficit” mean?
A: The difference between the government’s total expenditure and revenue (excluding borrowings)

Q26: What is the full form of RBI?
A: Reserve Bank of India

Q27: What is the largest stock exchange in India?
A: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

Q28: What is the full form of SEBI?
A: Securities and Exchange Board of India


Science & Technology GK Questions for UPSC

Q29: Who is known as the “Missile Man of India”?
A: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Q30: What is the chemical formula of water?
A: H₂O

Q31: Who invented the telephone?
A: Alexander Graham Bell

Q32: What is the SI unit of force?
A: Newton (N)

Q33: Which gas is essential for photosynthesis?
A: Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Q34: Who was the first Indian to travel in space?
A: Rakesh Sharma

Q35: What is the name of India’s Mars Mission?
A: Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)


Environment & Ecology GK Questions for UPSC

Q36: What is the largest forest in the world?
A: Amazon Rainforest

Q37: Which national park is known as the “Land of the Royal Bengal Tiger”?
A: Sundarbans National Park

Q38: What does “Deforestation” mean?
A: The clearing of forests for human activities

Q39: Which is the only floating national park in the world?
A: Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur)

Q40: What is the full form of UNEP?
A: United Nations Environment Programme


Current Affairs & General Awareness GK Questions for UPSC

Q41: Who is the current Prime Minister of India?
A: Narendra Modi (As of 2024, check for updates)

Q42: What is the capital of Ukraine?
A: Kyiv

Q43: Who is the current President of the United States?
A: (Check the latest update for the current President)

Q44: Which Indian city hosted the G20 Summit in 2023?
A: New Delhi

Q45: What is the name of the latest Indian lunar mission?
A: Chandrayaan-3

Q46: Who is the Director-General of WHO?
A: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (As of 2024, check for updates)

Q47: Which country has the highest population in the world?
A: India (as of 2023, surpassing China)


UPSC GK Preparation Tips

  1. Read Newspapers Daily – Focus on The Hindu, The Indian Express, and PIB for current affairs.
  2. Use Standard Books – NCERTs, Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (History), and Ramesh Singh (Economy) are essential.
  3. Follow Government Reports – Refer to Economic Survey, Union Budget, and NITI Aayog reports.
  4. Attempt Mock Tests – Regular practice with UPSC previous year papers and online quizzes.
  5. Revise Regularly – Make concise notes and revise frequently.

A strong General Knowledge (GK) foundation is crucial for UPSC Prelims, Mains, and the Interview round. Regular practice, staying updated with current affairs, and revising static GK topics will help aspirants crack the UPSC exam successfully.

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