100+ UPSC General Knowledge (GK) Questions for Prelims 2026

Strong General Knowledge forms the foundation of success in the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam. Every year, UPSC Prelims tests candidates on key subjects like Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment & Ecology, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs.

UPSC expects you to understand concepts, connect topics, and apply knowledge to real-world events. Regular practice with UPSC GK questions helps you build this clarity and improve accuracy.

Here, we have compiled 100+ UPSC General Knowledge Questions with Answers covering high-yield topics for UPSC Prelims. Use these GK questions for UPSC preparation to revise concepts, test your knowledge, and strengthen your exam readiness.

Let’s start practising!

General Knowledge forms the backbone of the UPSC Prelims exam. Here are high-yield, subject-wise GK questions with answers to help you revise quickly and effectively.

1. Which is the earliest known civilisation in India?
Ans. Indus Valley Civilisation

2. Which Indus site is famous for the Great Bath?
Ans. Mohenjo-daro

3. Which is the oldest Veda?
Ans. Rigveda

4. Which metal was not used by the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Ans. Iron

5. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
Ans. Chandragupta Maurya

6. Who wrote the Arthashastra?
Ans. Kautilya

7. Who was the famous Gupta ruler known as the “Napoleon of India”?
Ans. Samudragupta

8. Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi?
Ans. Razia Sultan

9. Which battle marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India?
Ans. First Battle of Panipat (1526)

10. Who introduced Din-i-Ilahi?
Ans. Akbar

11. Which battle was fought between Akbar and Maharana Pratap in 1576?
Ans. Battle of Haldighati

12. In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
Ans. 1757

13. Who defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey?
Ans. Robert Clive

14. Where did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
Ans. Meerut

15. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
Ans. 1885

16. Who founded the Indian National Congress?
Ans. A.O. Hume

17. Who gave the slogan “Do or Die”?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi

18. In which year was the Quit India Movement launched?
Ans. 1942

19. Who was the Governor-General of Bengal during the Battle of Plassey?
Ans. Robert Clive.

20. Who was the last Viceroy of India?
Ans. Lord Mountbatten

1. When did the Constitution of India come into force?
Ans. 26 January 1950

2. When was the Constitution of India adopted?
Ans. 26 November 1949

3. Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
Ans. B. R. Ambedkar

4. Which Article of the Constitution abolishes untouchability?
Ans. Article 17

5. How many schedules are there in the Indian Constitution at present?
Ans. 12

6. How many parts are there in the Indian Constitution?
Ans. 25

7. Which body is known as the guardian of the Constitution?
Ans. Supreme Court

8. Who appoints the Prime Minister of India?
Ans. President of India

9. What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha?
Ans. 552

10. What is the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha?
Ans. 250

11. Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the proclamation of a National Emergency?
Ans. Article 352

12. How many Fundamental Duties are mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
Ans. 11

13. Which amendment introduced Fundamental Duties in the Constitution?
Ans. 42nd Amendment (1976)

14. Which amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years?
Ans. 61st Amendment (1988)

15. What is the minimum age to become the President of India?
Ans. 35 years

16. What is the minimum age to become a member of the Lok Sabha?
Ans. 25 years

17. What is the minimum age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha?
Ans. 30 years

18. Which article is known as the “Heart and Soul of the Constitution”?
Ans. Article 32

19. Which amendment is known as the “Mini Constitution”?
Ans. 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976)

20. Who administers the oath of office to the President of India?
Ans. Chief Justice of India

1. Which is the longest river in India?
Ans. Ganga

2. Which is the highest mountain peak in India?
Ans. Kangchenjunga

3. Which plateau is known as the “Mineral Heartland of India”?
Ans. Chota Nagpur Plateau

4. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
Ans. Kosi River

5. Which is the largest state in India by area?
Ans. Rajasthan

6. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
Ans. Gujarat

7. Which river forms the Sundarbans delta?
Ans. Ganga–Brahmaputra

8. Which river is known as the “Dakshin Ganga”?
Ans. Godavari

9. Which pass connects Srinagar with Leh?
Ans. Zoji La Pass

10. Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Ans. Wular Lake

11. Which is the longest river in the world?
Ans. Nile River

12. Which is the highest mountain peak in the world?
Answ. Mount Everest

13. Which is the largest ocean in the world?
Ans. Pacific Ocean

14. Which continent is known as the “Dark Continent”?
Ans. Africa

15. Which is the largest island in the world?
Ans. Greenland

16. Which strait connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean?
Ans. Strait of Gibraltar

17. Which line divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Ans. Equator

18. Which ocean is the deepest in the world?
Answer: Pacific Ocean

19. Which mountain range separates Europe and Asia?
Ans. Ural Mountains

20. Which sea is the saltiest water body in the world?
Ans. Dead Sea

1. Which institution is known as the central bank of India?
Ans. Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

2. Which Five-Year Plan focused on rapid industrialisation?
Ans. Second Five-Year Plan.

3. Who is known as the architect of India’s Five-Year Plans?
Ans. P.C. Mahalanobis.

4. Which body recommends the distribution of taxes between the Centre and States?
Ans. Finance Commission.

5. Which institution regulates the banking system in India?
Ans. Reserve Bank of India.

6. Which Indian stock exchange is the oldest in Asia?
Ans. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

7. Which rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks?
Ans. Repo Rate.

8. Which rate is the rate at which banks deposit money with the RBI?
Ans. Reverse Repo Rate.

9. Which sector contributes the highest share to India’s GDP?
Ans. Service sector.

10. Which index measures changes in the retail prices of goods and services?
Answer: Consumer Price Index (CPI).

1. What is the SI unit of force?
Ans. Newton

2. Which gas is most abundant in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Ans.  Nitrogen

3. Which planet is the largest in the Solar System?
Ans. Jupiter

4. Which part of the human body produces insulin?
Ans. Pancreas

5. Which metal is liquid at room temperature?
Ans. Mercury

6. Which device is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Ans. Barometer

7. Which technology is used to create genetically identical organisms?
Ans. Cloning

8. Which blood cells help fight infections in the human body?
Ans. White blood cells

9. Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Ans. Stratosphere

10. Which vitamin deficiency leads to night blindness?
Ans. Vitamin A

11. Which mosquito transmits malaria?
Ans. Female Anopheles mosquito

12. Which technology is used to edit genes precisely in living organisms?
Ans. CRISPR-Cas9

13. Which technology is used for contactless payments through smartphones?
Ans. NFC (Near Field Communication)

14. Which Indian navigation satellite system provides regional positioning services?
Ans. NavIC

15. Which disease is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D?
Ans. Rickets

16. Which part of the cell contains genetic material?
Ans. Nucleus

17. Which element is essential for the formation of haemoglobin in blood?
Ans. Iron

18. Which disease affects the liver and is often spread through contaminated food or water?
Answer: Hepatitis A

19. Which type of energy is stored in food molecules?
Ans. Chemical energy

20. Which disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae?
Ans. Leprosy

1. Which gas is primarily responsible for global warming?
Ans. Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

2. Which is the largest mangrove forest in the world?
Ans. Sundarbans

3. Which organisation publishes the Red List of Threatened Species?
Ans. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

4. Which day is celebrated as World Environment Day?
Ans. 5 June

5. Which greenhouse gas is produced in large amounts by livestock and wetlands?
Ans. Methane

6. Which ecosystem is known as the “lungs of the Earth”?
Ans. Tropical rainforests

7. Which species is the national aquatic animal of India?
Ans. Ganges River Dolphin

8. Which international convention regulates trade in endangered species?
Ans. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

9. Which Indian state has the largest forest cover?
Ans. Madhya Pradesh

10. Which process converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for plants?
Ans. Nitrogen fixation

11. Which gas is mainly responsible for ozone layer depletion?
Ans. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

12. Which ecosystem has the highest biodiversity on Earth?
Ans. Tropical rainforest

13. Which phenomenon causes the warming of ocean surface waters in the Pacific Ocean?
Ans. El Niño

14. Which environmental term refers to excessive nutrients in water bodies leading to algal blooms?
Ans. Eutrophication

15. Which animal is the national animal of India?
Ans. Bengal Tiger

The following UPSC Current Affairs GK questions focus on high-priority topics for the UPSC Prelims 2026, including international relations, the environment, the economy, science & technology, and key government initiatives.

1. Which species in India was recently in the news due to conservation efforts in the Assam wetlands?
Ans. Greater Adjutant Stork

2. Which virus is primarily responsible for cervical cancer?
Ans. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

3. Who presents the Economic Survey in the Parliament of India?
Ans. The Finance Minister

4. Which mountain range acts as a natural barrier between the Thar Desert and the Indo-Gangetic plains?
Ans. Aravalli Hills

5. Which strategic waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman?
Ans. Strait of Hormuz

6. Which Indian mission aims to observe the Sun from the Lagrange point L1?
Ans. Aditya-L1 Mission

7. Which organisation releases the Global Hunger Index report?
Ans. Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe

8. Which international court settles disputes between countries under the United Nations?
Ans. International Court of Justice

9. Who designed the Indian National Flag?
Ans. Pingali Venkayya

10. Who wrote the national song Vande Mataram?
Ans. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

11. In which novel was the song Vande Mataram originally published?
Ans. Anandamath

12. Which campaign encouraged citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes?
Ans. Har Ghar Tiranga

13. Which country hosts the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund?
Ans. Washington, D.C.

14. Which government campaign encourages environmental awareness and lifestyle changes to combat climate change?
Ans. LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

15. Which country recently joined the BRICS group as a new member in 2024?
Ans. Saudi Arabia

16. Which country officially became the newest member of the NATO alliance in 2024?
Ans. Sweden

17. Which strait has been strategically important during tensions involving Iran and global oil transport?
Ans. Strait of Hormuz

18. Which Indian state recently notified the first community reserve for snow leopards?
Ans. Ladakh

19. Which global biodiversity framework was adopted to protect ecosystems and species by 2030?
Ans. Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

20. Which country hosted the COP28 climate conference in 2023?
Ans. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

21. Which organisation releases the Global Climate Risk Index report?
Ans. Germanwatch

22. Which international organisation regulates global nuclear energy cooperation and safety?
Ans. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

23. Which Indian state launched the “Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana” for women’s financial assistance?
Ans. Madhya Pradesh

24. Which global financial institution releases the World Economic Outlook report?
Ans. International Monetary Fund

25. Which country hosted the COP30 climate conference in 2025?
Ans. Belem, Brazil

Must see: Crack UPSC Prelims 2026 with Daily UPSC MCQs Practice

UPSC has a consistent habit of repeating themes, ideas, and even similar question patterns from previous years. That’s why PYQs are absolute goldmines for smart preparation. Attempt these GK Prelims PYQs to sharpen your elimination skills and boost your scoring ability in the exam.

GK-based questions in the UPSC test your awareness, recall, and ability to link static topics with current affairs. Effective preparation can significantly improve both accuracy and elimination skills. Here are the tips to master GK for UPSC:

1. Integrate GK with Current Affairs

Most GK questions are based on the current relevance of static facts. A question on “Ramsar sites” may be framed from news about wetlands conservation.

Pro Tip: For every news topic, ask: Which static facts can UPSC link? E.g., news about Chandrayaan → revise ISRO missions, cryogenic engines, GSLV/PSLV differences.

2. Practice Topic-wise MCQs Daily

Consistent practice helps understand UPSC phrasing and trap options. Solve 10–20 GK MCQs every day. 

3. Revise Frequently with Smart Techniques

Use spaced repetition to retain factual GK. Revise weekly lists: national parks, constitutional articles, international organisations.

4. Use UPSC PYQs

UPSC repeats themes such as international bodies, environment, art forms, diseases, and satellites. Analyse at least 10 years of PYQs.

5. Build Interlinkages

UPSC rewards candidates who can connect the dots. A question about “Millets” links agriculture + nutrition + international years.

6. Keep GK Simple, Not Encyclopedic

Don’t try to memorise random trivia. Focus only on UPSC-relevant GK—constitutional terms, institutions, organisations, awards, ecology, science basics. Look at the last 5 years of GK questions to understand what not to study.

The 3-Step GK Learning Approach

1. Read the concept (NCERT or standard book)
2. Supplement with current affairs
3. Solve MCQs + PYQs immediately after the topic

Example: Topic: Ozone Depletion

• Step 1 → Basic chemistry of ozone
• Step 2 → Montreal Protocol updates / UNEP reports
• Step 3 → Solve PYQs on global treaties & pollutants

Also see: UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025 Paper Analysis

Cracking UPSC becomes easier when you strengthen your basics and keep testing yourself regularly. GK improves only with consistent revision and daily practice, so make MCQs a part of your routine.

Stay focused, stay steady, and keep improving one step at a time. Practice unlimited, high-quality UPSC MCQs on  SuperKalam and build exam-ready confidence every day.