Tag Archives: upsc gk questions

Top 200 Most Asked GK Questions for Competitive Exams (History, Polity, Geography & Science)

Posted on by Leave a comment

Preparing for competitive exams requires a strong foundation in General Awareness (GA). Exams conducted by organizations like Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) often include moderate to difficult GA questions from history, polity, geography, environment, and general science.

To help you prepare effectively, here are 200 important General Awareness questions frequently asked in competitive exams.

Indian History (1–50)

  1. Who introduced the Mansabdari system?
    Answer: Akbar
  2. Who shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?
    Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq
  3. The Treaty of Srirangapatna (1792) was signed between the British and which ruler?
    Answer: Tipu Sultan
  4. The Permanent Settlement of Bengal was introduced by:
    Answer: Lord Cornwallis
  5. Who founded the Slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
    Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak
  6. Who introduced Din-i-Ilahi?
    Answer: Akbar
  7. The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in:
    Answer: 1761
  8. Who established the Asiatic Society of Bengal?
    Answer: William Jones
  9. Who founded Arya Samaj?
    Answer: Dayananda Saraswati
  10. The Ilbert Bill controversy occurred during the tenure of:
    Answer: Lord Ripon
  11. Who led the Wahabi movement in India?
    Answer: Syed Ahmed Barelvi
  12. Who founded the Ghadar Party?
    Answer: Lala Hardayal
  13. Bardoli Satyagraha was led by:
    Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  14. The Simon Commission arrived in India in:
    Answer: 1928
  15. Who was the first Indian Governor-General of India?
    Answer: C. Rajagopalachari
  16. Who presided over the Lahore session of Congress (1929)?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru
  17. The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in:
    Answer: 1946
  18. Champaran movement was led by:
    Answer: Mahatma Gandhi
  19. Who wrote Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?
    Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji
  20. The Indian National Army was reorganized by:
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose
  21. Who founded the Theosophical Society in India?
    Answer: Annie Besant
  22. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in:
    Answer: 1878
  23. Khilafat movement was led by:
    Answer: Ali Brothers
  24. Who founded Servants of India Society?
    Answer: Gopal Krishna Gokhale
  25. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
    Answer: Lord Dalhousie
  26. The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
    Answer: 1764
  27. Who founded the Maratha Empire?
    Answer: Shivaji
  28. Ryotwari system was introduced by:
    Answer: Thomas Munro
  29. Who was the first woman president of Congress?
    Answer: Annie Besant
  30. The Delhi Durbar of 1911 shifted the capital to:
    Answer: Delhi
  31. Poona Pact was signed between:
    Answer: B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi
  32. Hunter Commission investigated:
    Answer: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
  33. “Inquilab Zindabad” slogan was given by:
    Answer: Hasrat Mohani
  34. Home Rule Movement was started by:
    Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
  35. Who wrote Arthashastra?
    Answer: Kautilya
  36. Gandhara art shows influence of:
    Answer: Greek art
  37. The Saka Era began in:
    Answer: 78 CE
  38. Who founded the Gupta Empire?
    Answer: Sri Gupta
  39. Who wrote Akbarnama?
    Answer: Abul Fazl
  40. Battle of Plassey took place in:
    Answer: 1757
  41. Who composed the Allahabad Pillar inscription?
    Answer: Harisena
  42. Nalanda University flourished under:
    Answer: Kumaragupta I
  43. Who built the Sun Temple at Konark?
    Answer: Narasimhadeva I
  44. Who founded the Satavahana dynasty?
    Answer: Simuka
  45. Who wrote Rajatarangini?
    Answer: Kalhana
  46. The Kalinga War was fought by:
    Answer: Ashoka
  47. The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in:
    Answer: 1921
  48. Who deciphered Brahmi script?
    Answer: James Prinsep
  49. Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?
    Answer: Chandragupta Maurya
  50. Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?
    Answer: Harisena

Indian Polity (51–100)

  1. The Constitution of India came into force in: 1950
  2. Fundamental Duties were added by: 42nd Amendment
  3. Directive Principles are borrowed from: Ireland
  4. Judicial Review concept is borrowed from: United States
  5. The Vice President is Chairman of: Rajya Sabha
  6. Money Bills can be introduced only in: Lok Sabha
  7. Article 21A deals with: Right to Education
  8. Finance Commission is mentioned in: Article 280
  9. Constitutional amendments are under: Article 368
  10. The President can declare emergency under: Article 352
  11. The term of Lok Sabha is: 5 years
  12. Minimum age for Lok Sabha: 25 years
  13. Minimum age for Rajya Sabha: 30 years
  14. Attorney General is appointed by: President of India
  15. The Supreme Court was established in: 1950
  16. Panchayati Raj was added by: 73rd Amendment
  17. Municipalities were added by: 74th Amendment
  18. Anti-defection law: 52nd Amendment
  19. The Governor is appointed by: President of India
  20. CAG stands for: Comptroller and Auditor General
  21. The first Finance Commission was formed in: 1951
  22. The Union List contains: 100 subjects
  23. The State List originally had: 66 subjects
  24. The Seventh Schedule contains: Three lists
  25. The writ of Habeas Corpus means: Produce the body
  26. Lokpal deals with: Corruption
  27. Election Commission is established under: Article 324
  28. The Chief Justice of India is appointed by: President of India
  29. Fundamental Rights are in: Part III
  30. Directive Principles are in: Part IV
  31. The first President of India: Rajendra Prasad
  32. The Parliament consists of: President + Two Houses
  33. The Rajya Sabha is a: Permanent House
  34. The President can issue ordinances under: Article 123
  35. The Planning Commission was replaced by: NITI Aayog
  36. The highest court in India: Supreme Court
  37. The Union Budget is presented by: Finance Minister
  38. The National Emergency was declared in: 1975
  39. The first Lok Sabha election was held in: 1952
  40. The Constitution has how many schedules? 12
  41. The Preamble declares India as: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic
  42. The Right to Property is now: Legal Right
  43. Article 370 dealt with: Jammu & Kashmir special status
  44. The Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected by: Members of Lok Sabha
  45. The Vice President is elected by: Parliament
  46. The Governor acts as: Constitutional head of state
  47. Lok Sabha maximum strength: 552
  48. Rajya Sabha maximum strength: 250
  49. Supreme Court judges retire at: 65 years
  50. High Court judges retire at: 62 years

Geography & Environment (101–150)

  1. Tropic of Cancer passes through: 8 Indian states
  2. Largest desert: Sahara Desert
  3. Longest river in world: Nile River
  4. Largest delta: Ganges‑Brahmaputra Delta
  5. Largest rainforest: Amazon Rainforest
  6. Highest waterfall: Angel Falls
  7. Largest mangrove forest: Sundarbans
  8. Highest plateau: Tibetan Plateau
  9. Longest mountain range: Andes Mountains
  10. Largest coral reef: Great Barrier Reef
  11. Deepest ocean trench: Mariana Trench
  12. Largest freshwater lake by volume: Lake Baikal
  13. Study of earthquakes: Seismology
  14. Ozone layer lies in: Stratosphere
  15. Earth’s largest ocean: Pacific Ocean
  16. Smallest continent: Australia
  17. Largest continent: Asia
  18. The Equator divides Earth into: Northern & Southern hemispheres
  19. Largest island: Greenland
  20. Coldest continent: Antarctica
  21. Longest river in India: Ganga
  22. Largest state in India by area: Rajasthan
  23. Smallest state in India: Goa
  24. Highest peak in India: Kangchenjunga
  25. Longest Indian dam: Hirakud Dam
  26. Largest Indian delta: Sundarbans
  27. Largest saltwater lake in India: Chilika Lake
  28. Highest Indian waterfall: Jog Falls
  29. Longest coastline state: Gujarat
  30. Largest national park in India: Hemis National Park
  31. Study of weather: Meteorology
  32. Rocks formed from magma: Igneous rocks
  33. Windless belt near equator: Doldrums
  34. Largest desert in Asia: Gobi Desert
  35. Earth’s rotation period: 24 hours
  36. Earth’s revolution period: 365 days
  37. Largest bay in world: Bay of Bengal
  38. Largest gulf: Gulf of Mexico
  39. Earth’s natural satellite: Moon
  40. Largest volcano: Mauna Loa
  41. Ocean currents affect: Climate
  42. Soil formed by rivers: Alluvial soil
  43. Highest mountain peak: Mount Everest
  44. Largest archipelago: Indonesia
  45. Largest river basin: Amazon Basin
  46. Highest dam in India: Tehri Dam
  47. Largest glacier outside polar region: Siachen
  48. Longest canal in India: Indira Gandhi Canal
  49. Largest plateau in India: Deccan Plateau
  50. Highest Indian plateau: Ladakh Plateau

General Science (151–200)

  1. SI unit of force: Newton
  2. SI unit of work: Joule
  3. SI unit of pressure: Pascal
  4. SI unit of electric current: Ampere
  5. SI unit of temperature: Kelvin
  6. Speed of light: 3×10⁸ m/s
  7. pH of pure water: 7
  8. Hardest natural substance: Diamond
  9. Most abundant gas in atmosphere: Nitrogen
  10. Chemical formula of water: H₂O
  11. DNA stands for: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
  12. Powerhouse of cell: Mitochondria
  13. Human chromosomes: 46
  14. Largest organ: Skin
  15. Largest gland: Liver
  16. Smallest bone: Stapes
  17. Insulin produced by: Pancreas
  18. Vitamin for blood clotting: Vitamin K
  19. Vitamin from sunlight: Vitamin D
  20. Normal body temperature: 37°C
  21. Study of blood: Hematology
  22. Study of fungi: Mycology
  23. Study of insects: Entomology
  24. Study of plants: Botany
  25. Study of animals: Zoology
  26. Metal used in thermometer: Mercury
  27. Atomic number of hydrogen: 1
  28. Chemical symbol of gold: Au
  29. Chemical symbol of silver: Ag
  30. Chemical symbol of iron: Fe
  31. First artificial satellite: Sputnik 1
  32. First human in space: Yuri Gagarin
  33. First human on Moon: Neil Armstrong
  34. Largest planet: Jupiter
  35. Red planet: Mars
  36. Earth’s satellite: Moon
  37. Milky Way is a: Galaxy
  38. Sun is a: Star
  39. Closest planet to Sun: Mercury
  40. Hottest planet: Venus
  41. Process of liquid to gas: Vaporization
  42. Process of gas to liquid: Condensation
  43. Process of solid to gas: Sublimation
  44. Acid turns litmus: Red
  45. Base turns litmus: Blue
  46. Gas used in balloons: Helium
  47. Main gas in LPG: Butane
  48. Gas used by plants in photosynthesis: Carbon dioxide
  49. Green pigment in plants: Chlorophyll
  50. Energy stored in food: Chemical energy

Conclusion

Mastering these 200 moderate-to-hard General Awareness questions can significantly improve your preparation for competitive exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.

📚 Regular revision will help you:

  • Strengthen conceptual understanding
  • Improve exam accuracy
  • Boost confidence in high-level exams

Make sure to combine these questions with daily current affairs practice for the best results.