The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest exams in India, requiring a strong grasp of General Awareness (GA) and General Knowledge (GK). A significant portion of the Prelims (GS Paper 1) and Mains (GS Paper 2 & 3) consists of questions from history, geography, polity, economy, science, and current affairs.
To help UPSC aspirants prepare effectively, we have compiled a set of important General Awareness & GK questions with answers that frequently appear in the exam.
1. History & Culture GK Questions
Q1: Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire?
A) Chandragupta Maurya
B) Bindusara
C) Ashoka
D) Harsha
✅ Answer: A) Chandragupta Maurya
Q2: Who is known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) B.R. Ambedkar
C) Sardar Patel
D) Rajendra Prasad
✅ Answer: B) B.R. Ambedkar
Q3: In which year did the Battle of Panipat take place?
A) 1526
B) 1556
C) 1761
D) All of the above
✅ Answer: D) All of the above (Three battles: 1526, 1556, 1761)
Q4: What was the main objective of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Demand for Swaraj (self-rule)
B) Formation of Congress
C) Promoting industrialization
D) Establishing a trade union
✅ Answer: A) Demand for Swaraj (self-rule)
Q5: Which ancient university was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji?
A) Nalanda
B) Taxila
C) Vikramshila
D) Both A & C
✅ Answer: D) Both A & C
2. Geography GK Questions
Q6: Which is the longest river in India?
A) Yamuna
B) Ganga
C) Brahmaputra
D) Godavari
✅ Answer: B) Ganga
Q7: The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
A) 5
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
✅ Answer: C) 8
Q8: What is the capital of Lakshadweep?
A) Port Blair
B) Kavaratti
C) Aizawl
D) Agartala
✅ Answer: B) Kavaratti
Q9: Which is the highest peak in India?
A) Kanchenjunga
B) Nanda Devi
C) Mount Everest
D) Annapurna
✅ Answer: A) Kanchenjunga
Q10: Which Indian state has the largest forest cover?
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Arunachal Pradesh
C) Chhattisgarh
D) Odisha
✅ Answer: A) Madhya Pradesh
3. Polity & Governance GK Questions
Q11: Who appoints the Chief Justice of India?
A) President
B) Prime Minister
C) Chief Justice of India
D) Parliament
✅ Answer: A) President
Q12: What is the tenure of a Rajya Sabha member?
A) 4 years
B) 5 years
C) 6 years
D) 3 years
✅ Answer: C) 6 years
Q13: What is the minimum age to become the President of India?
A) 25 years
B) 30 years
C) 35 years
D) 40 years
✅ Answer: C) 35 years
Q14: How many fundamental rights are there in the Indian Constitution?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
✅ Answer: B) 6
Q15: Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with emergency provisions?
A) Article 356
B) Article 352
C) Article 360
D) All of the above
✅ Answer: D) All of the above
4. Economy & Current Affairs GK Questions
Q16: What does GDP stand for?
A) Gross Development Product
B) Gross Domestic Product
C) General Domestic Price
D) Government Development Plan
✅ Answer: B) Gross Domestic Product
Q17: What is the function of SEBI?
A) Regulate the stock market
B) Control foreign trade
C) Manage currency exchange rates
D) Supervise taxation policies
✅ Answer: A) Regulate the stock market
Q18: Which bank is called the “Lender of Last Resort” in India?
A) SBI
B) HDFC
C) RBI
D) ICICI
✅ Answer: C) RBI
Q19: Which was the first digital payment system launched in India?
A) UPI
B) BHIM
C) Paytm
D) RuPay
✅ Answer: B) BHIM
Q20: India’s first bullet train is being developed with the assistance of which country?
A) USA
B) Japan
C) China
D) France
✅ Answer: B) Japan
5. Science & Technology GK Questions
Q21: What is the atomic number of Oxygen?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 12
D) 16
✅ Answer: B) 8
Q22: Which Indian scientist discovered Raman Effect?
A) C.V. Raman
B) Homi Bhabha
C) S.N. Bose
D) Vikram Sarabhai
✅ Answer: A) C.V. Raman
Q23: What is the full form of ISRO?
A) Indian Space Research Organisation
B) International Space Research Organisation
C) Indian Scientific Research Organisation
D) Indian Satellite Research Organisation
✅ Answer: A) Indian Space Research Organisation
Q24: Which Indian mission was aimed at Mars exploration?
A) Chandrayaan-2
B) Aditya L1
C) Mangalyaan
D) GSAT-11
✅ Answer: C) Mangalyaan
Q25: What is the main fuel used in nuclear reactors?
A) Thorium
B) Uranium
C) Plutonium
D) Hydrogen
✅ Answer: B) Uranium
FAQs on General Awareness & GK for UPSC
Q1: Why is General Awareness important for UPSC?
General Awareness helps candidates perform well in UPSC Prelims & Mains by covering topics like history, polity, geography, economy, and science.
Q2: What are the best sources to study General Awareness for UPSC?
- NCERT Books (Class 6-12)
- The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB
- Economic Survey & Budget
- Government reports & Yojana Magazine
Q3: How many GK questions appear in UPSC Prelims?
On average, 15-20 questions from General Awareness appear in UPSC Prelims, mostly from current affairs & static GK.
Q4: How can I improve my General Knowledge for UPSC?
- Read newspapers daily
- Follow government schemes & policies
- Solve previous year UPSC question papers
- Stay updated with science & technology advancements
Q5: What type of current affairs are asked in UPSC?
- Government policies & initiatives
- International relations & agreements
- Economic & banking updates
- Space & defense advancements
Conclusion: Ace Your UPSC Preparation with Strong GK!
A strong grasp of General Awareness & GK can significantly boost your UPSC score. Stay updated, practice regularly, and focus on current affairs & key topics to excel in the exam!
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