Essential UPSC General Knowledge Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams
UPSC General Knowledge Questions and Answers
Every year, millions of students gear up for various competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Bank, Railway, NDA, and CDS. A solid grasp of general studies and general knowledge is crucial for achieving success in these assessments. Regardless of whether it's the preliminary or main exam, questions related to general knowledge are prevalent at all stages. Topics covering history, geography, science, politics, the constitution, and current affairs often play a pivotal role in determining a candidate's success.
Enhancing your general knowledge not only boosts your exam scores but also builds your confidence during interviews. Below are 50 vital general knowledge questions along with their answers, frequently encountered in UPSC, SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking, Railway, and other government job examinations.
General Knowledge Questions
1. Who was the first President of India?
Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
2. When did India gain independence?
Answer: 15 August 1947
3. Which Indian state has the largest area?
Answer: Rajasthan
4. What is the highest mountain on Earth?
Answer: Mount Everest
5. What is India's national animal?
Answer: Tiger
6. What is the national bird of India?
Answer: Peacock
7. What was the name of India's first satellite?
Answer: Aryabhata
8. When did the Constitution of India come into effect?
Answer: 26 January 1950
9. When was the United Nations Organization established?
Answer: 24 October 1945
10. Which continent is the largest?
Answer: Asia
History and Freedom Struggle Questions
11. What was Rani Lakshmibai's real name?
Answer: Manikarnika
12. When did the Simon Commission arrive in India?
Answer: 1928
13. When did Gandhiji initiate the Dandi March?
Answer: 12 March 1930
14. Who coined the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'?
Answer: Lal Bahadur Shastri
15. When did the Quit India Movement occur?
Answer: 8 August 1942
Geography and Environment Questions
16. Where does the Ganges river originate?
Answer: Gomukh, Uttarakhand
17. What is the longest river in India?
Answer: Ganga
18. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
Answer: Mercury
19. Which type of vegetation produces the most oxygen on Earth?
Answer: Algae
20. Which planet is referred to as the blue planet?
Answer: Earth
Science and Technology Questions
21. What is the largest gland in the human body?
Answer: Liver
22. Who discovered DNA?
Answer: Watson and Crick
23. Who is known as the father of the computer?
Answer: Charles Babbage
24. What does a light year measure?
Answer: Distance
25. Which system is the heart part of?
Answer: Circulatory system
Indian Constitution and Politics Questions
26. Who was the architect of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
27. How many types of government exist in India?
Answer: Three - Central, State, and Local Government
28. Where is the Supreme Court of India located?
Answer: New Delhi
29. What is the term length for the President of India?
Answer: 5 years
30. How many houses are in the Indian Parliament?
Answer: Two (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
Sports and Awards Questions
31. When did the Olympic Games first take place?
Answer: 1896, Athens (Greece)
32. Which nation won the inaugural Cricket World Cup?
Answer: West Indies (1975)
33. What is India's national sport?
Answer: Hockey
34. When did Sachin Tendulkar receive the Bharat Ratna?
Answer: 2014
35. In which field is the Nobel Prize not awarded?
Answer: Mathematics
Current Affairs and Modern India Questions
36. When did Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander touch down on the moon?
Answer: 23 August 2023
37. Who is the current President of India?
Answer: Droupadi Murmu (until 2025)
38. Which country hosted the G20 summit in 2023?
Answer: India
39. When did the first Vande Bharat Express commence operations?
Answer: 15 February 2019
40. What does ISRO stand for?
Answer: Indian Space Research Organisation
General Knowledge Questions
41. Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Indira Gandhi
42. Who wrote the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore
43. Which road was constructed by Sher Shah Suri?
Answer: Grand Trunk Road
44. On which riverbank was the Harappan civilization located?
Answer: Indus River
45. Who commissioned the Taj Mahal?
Answer: Shah Jahan
Additional General Knowledge Questions
46. What is the highest waterfall in India?
Answer: Jog Falls (Karnataka)
47. When was the Fourth Five Year Plan initiated?
Answer: 1969-1974
48. When was the first census in India conducted?
Answer: 1872
49. What does ATM stand for?
Answer: Automated Teller Machine
50. What does PAN signify in a PAN card?
Answer: Permanent Account Number