Cracking the UPSC Prelims requires more than just reading it demands consistent practice with exam-style questions that mirror the real difficulty level. This set of 70+ GK MCQs covers all major subjects, from Polity and History to Current Affairs, giving you a clear picture of where you stand.

Whether you’re a first-time aspirant or revising for a repeat attempt, working through these section-wise questions will help you identify weak areas quickly. Use this as a self-assessment tool alongside your regular study routine to track genuine progress before exam day.

GK Questions for UPSC Generator

GK Questions for UPSC: Practice MCQs with Answers

This section brings together a complete set of practice MCQs designed specifically around the UPSC GK syllabus, covering both static subjects and current affairs. Each question is followed immediately by its correct answer, so you can self-check as you move through the set.

The questions are divided into ten clear sections, making it easy to focus on one subject at a time or attempt the full set as a timed mock test. Use these regularly to benchmark your preparation and pinpoint exactly which areas need more revision.

How to Use These Questions

Attempt each section without looking at the answers first, and time yourself — roughly 50 to 55 seconds per question is the pace you’ll need on exam day. Mark the ones you got wrong or guessed on, and go back to your notes or NCERT books for those topics. Repeating this practice weekly, alongside daily newspaper reading, is one of the most effective ways to build both speed and accuracy for the Prelims.

Section 1: Indian Polity MCQs

Which part of the Indian Constitution deals with Fundamental Rights?
A) Part II
B) Part III
C) Part IV
D) Part V
Answer: B) Part III

Who has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha?
A) Prime Minister
B) Speaker of Lok Sabha
C) President of India
D) Chief Justice of India
Answer: C) President of India

The concept of “Directive Principles of State Policy” was borrowed from which country’s constitution?
A) USA
B) Ireland
C) Canada
D) Australia
Answer: B) Ireland

How many schedules are there in the Indian Constitution as of now?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 14
D) 9
Answer: B) 12

Which Article of the Constitution deals with the Right to Constitutional Remedies?
A) Article 30
B) Article 32
C) Article 21
D) Article 19
Answer: B) Article 32

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act is related to:
A) Municipalities
B) Panchayati Raj institutions
C) GST
D) Reservation in jobs
Answer: B) Panchayati Raj institutions

Who was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
A) Sardar Hukam Singh
B) G.V. Mavalankar
C) N. Sanjiva Reddy
D) K.S. Hegde
Answer: B) G.V. Mavalankar

Section 2: Indian History MCQs

The Indian National Congress was founded in the year:
A) 1875
B) 1885
C) 1905
D) 1857
Answer: B) 1885

Who gave the slogan “Do or Die” during the Quit India Movement?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: B) Mahatma Gandhi

The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year:
A) 1757
B) 1764
C) 1799
D) 1857
Answer: A) 1757

Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Dayanand Saraswati
D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

The Dandi March was led by Mahatma Gandhi in which year?
A) 1920
B) 1930
C) 1942
D) 1947
Answer: B) 1930

Which Mughal emperor built the Red Fort in Delhi?
A) Akbar
B) Humayun
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb
Answer: C) Shah Jahan

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in the year:
A) 1919
B) 1909
C) 1929
D) 1939
Answer: A) 1919

Section 3: Indian Geography MCQs

Which is the longest river in India?
A) Yamuna
B) Godavari
C) Ganga
D) Brahmaputra
Answer: C) Ganga

The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 5
Answer: C) 8

Which is the highest peak in India?
A) Nanda Devi
B) Kanchenjunga
C) K2
D) Mount Everest
Answer: B) Kanchenjunga

The Thar Desert is located in which state?
A) Gujarat
B) Haryana
C) Rajasthan
D) Punjab
Answer: C) Rajasthan

Which strait separates India and Sri Lanka?
A) Palk Strait
B) Malacca Strait
C) Bering Strait
D) Strait of Hormuz
Answer: A) Palk Strait

The Western Ghats are also known as:
A) Sahyadri
B) Aravalli
C) Vindhya
D) Satpura
Answer: A) Sahyadri

Which is the largest state in India by area?
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Rajasthan
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: C) Rajasthan

Section 4: Indian Economy MCQs

Who is known as the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms”?
A) Manmohan Singh
B) P.V. Narasimha Rao
C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
D) Pranab Mukherjee
Answer: A) Manmohan Singh

The Reserve Bank of India was established in the year:
A) 1935
B) 1947
C) 1950
D) 1921
Answer: A) 1935

GST in India was implemented in which year?
A) 2015
B) 2016
C) 2017
D) 2018
Answer: C) 2017

NITI Aayog replaced which earlier body?
A) Finance Commission
B) Planning Commission
C) National Development Council
D) Election Commission
Answer: B) Planning Commission

Which is the apex institution for agricultural credit in India?
A) SBI
B) SIDBI
C) NABARD
D) RBI
Answer: C) NABARD

The currency notes in India are printed under the authority of:
A) Finance Ministry
B) RBI
C) SBI
D) Parliament
Answer: B) RBI

India’s first Five-Year Plan focused mainly on:
A) Industry
B) Agriculture
C) Education
D) Defence
Answer: B) Agriculture

Section 5: Indian Environment & Ecology MCQs

Project Tiger was launched in which year?
A) 1973
B) 1980
C) 1992
D) 2000
Answer: A) 1973

Which is India’s first national park?
A) Kaziranga National Park
B) Jim Corbett National Park
C) Gir National Park
D) Sundarbans National Park
Answer: B) Jim Corbett National Park

The Chipko Movement was primarily related to:
A) Wildlife protection
B) Forest conservation
C) River pollution
D) Soil erosion
Answer: B) Forest conservation

Which gas is primarily responsible for depletion of the ozone layer?
A) Carbon dioxide
B) Methane
C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D) Nitrogen
Answer: C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

The Western Ghats were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in:
A) 2010
B) 2012
C) 2014
D) 2016
Answer: B) 2012

Which biosphere reserve in India was the first to be established?
A) Nilgiri
B) Sundarbans
C) Nanda Devi
D) Gulf of Mannar
Answer: A) Nilgiri

The Ramsar Convention is related to:
A) Wetland conservation
B) Forest conservation
C) Climate change
D) Marine pollution
Answer: A) Wetland conservation

Also Read More: हिंदी वाच्य: कर्तृ, कर्म और भाव वाच्य

Section 6: Science & Technology MCQs

India’s first satellite launched into space was:
A) Aryabhata
B) Bhaskara
C) Rohini
D) INSAT-1
Answer: A) Aryabhata

Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near which region of the Moon?
A) Equator
B) North Pole
C) South Pole
D) Far side
Answer: C) South Pole

Who is regarded as the “Father of the Indian Space Programme”?
A) Homi Bhabha
B) Vikram Sarabhai
C) APJ Abdul Kalam
D) Satish Dhawan
Answer: B) Vikram Sarabhai

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is located in:
A) Bengaluru
B) Mumbai
C) Chennai
D) Kolkata
Answer: B) Mumbai

Which organization developed the COVID-19 vaccine “Covaxin”?
A) Serum Institute of India
B) Bharat Biotech
C) Cipla
D) Zydus Cadila
Answer: B) Bharat Biotech

ISRO’s headquarters is located in:
A) Sriharikota
B) Bengaluru
C) Thiruvananthapuram
D) Hyderabad
Answer: B) Bengaluru

Which Indian mission was launched to study the Sun?
A) Chandrayaan
B) Mangalyaan
C) Aditya-L1
D) Astrosat
Answer: C) Aditya-L1

Section 7: Indian Polity — Constitutional Bodies

The Election Commission of India is a:
A) Statutory body
B) Constitutional body
C) Executive body
D) Judicial body
Answer: B) Constitutional body

Who appoints the members of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?
A) Prime Minister
B) President of India
C) Chief Justice of India
D) Parliament
Answer: B) President of India

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is appointed for a term of:
A) 5 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
B) 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
C) 6 years only
D) 5 years only
Answer: B) 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier

Which body is responsible for the distribution of tax revenue between the Centre and States?
A) NITI Aayog
B) Finance Commission
C) Planning Commission
D) GST Council
Answer: B) Finance Commission

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established under which Act?
A) Constitution directly
B) Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
C) NHRC Act, 1990
D) Citizens Charter Act
Answer: B) Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

Who is the Chairman of the GST Council?
A) Prime Minister
B) President
C) Union Finance Minister
D) RBI Governor
Answer: C) Union Finance Minister

The Attorney General of India is appointed under which Article?
A) Article 76
B) Article 124
C) Article 148
D) Article 165
Answer: A) Article 76

Section 8: Art, Culture & Heritage MCQs

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are located in which state?
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) Telangana
Answer: B) Maharashtra

Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form that originated in:
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Odisha
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B) Tamil Nadu

The Khajuraho temples are dedicated mainly to which deities?
A) Shiva and Vishnu
B) Hindu and Jain deities
C) Buddha
D) Surya
Answer: B) Hindu and Jain deities

Which classical music tradition is prevalent in South India?
A) Hindustani
B) Carnatic
C) Sufi
D) Dhrupad
Answer: B) Carnatic

The Sun Temple at Konark is located in which state?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Odisha
C) Gujarat
D) Karnataka
Answer: B) Odisha

Kathakali is a classical dance-drama form from:
A) Kerala
B) Assam
C) Manipur
D) West Bengal
Answer: A) Kerala

Which Mughal monument is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World?
A) Red Fort
B) Taj Mahal
C) Humayun’s Tomb
D) Fatehpur Sikri
Answer: B) Taj Mahal

Section 9: Awards & Honours MCQs

The Bharat Ratna is India’s:
A) Highest civilian award
B) Highest military award
C) Highest literary award
D) Highest sports award
Answer: A) Highest civilian award

Which is the highest gallantry award in India?
A) Ashoka Chakra
B) Param Vir Chakra
C) Maha Vir Chakra
D) Vir Chakra
Answer: B) Param Vir Chakra

The Sahitya Akademi Award is given for excellence in:
A) Science
B) Literature
C) Cinema
D) Music
Answer: B) Literature

The Dronacharya Award is given for excellence in:
A) Sports coaching
B) Classical dance
C) Military service
D) Journalism
Answer: A) Sports coaching

Which award is given by the Government of India for excellence in cinema?
A) Padma Bhushan
B) Dadasaheb Phalke Award
C) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
D) Jnanpith Award
Answer: B) Dadasaheb Phalke Award

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to which Indian in 2014?
A) Amartya Sen
B) Kailash Satyarthi
C) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
D) Abhijit Banerjee
Answer: B) Kailash Satyarthi

The Jnanpith Award is associated with which field?
A) Science
B) Indian literature
C) Social work
D) Sports
Answer: B) Indian literature

Section 10: Current Affairs & Miscellaneous

India assumed the presidency of the G20 summit for the year:
A) 2021
B) 2022
C) 2023
D) 2024
Answer: C) 2023

The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is located in:
A) New York
B) Geneva
C) Paris
D) Brussels
Answer: B) Geneva

Which Indian state recently became the first to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?
A) Gujarat
B) Uttarakhand
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: B) Uttarakhand

The headquarters of NITI Aayog is located in:
A) Mumbai
B) New Delhi
C) Bengaluru
D) Chennai
Answer: B) New Delhi

Which international organization releases the “Human Development Index” annually?
A) World Bank
B) WHO
C) UNDP
D) IMF
Answer: C) UNDP

India’s first Vande Bharat Express train ran between which two cities?
A) Delhi–Mumbai
B) Delhi–Varanasi
C) Mumbai–Pune
D) Chennai–Bengaluru
Answer: B) Delhi–Varanasi

The headquarters of BRICS New Development Bank is located in:
A) Beijing
B) Shanghai
C) New Delhi
D) Moscow
Answer: B) Shanghai

The “Digital India” programme was launched in the year:
A) 2014
B) 2015
C) 2016
D) 2017
Answer: B) 2015

How to Prepare UPSC

For UPSC GK preparation, build a strong static-GK base first using NCERT textbooks for History, Geography, Polity, and Economy, then layer in current affairs through daily newspaper reading and monthly compilations. Make short revision notes for each subject, attempt sectional quizzes regularly, and revise the same notes multiple times instead of constantly collecting new material repetition is what makes facts stick for the exam.

General Knowledge for UPSC

General knowledge for UPSC isn’t limited to one subject; it spans Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Science, Environment, Art and Culture, and Current Affairs. The Prelims paper tests both static facts (constitutional provisions, historical dates, geographical features) and dynamic facts (recent schemes, appointments, international events), so a balanced study plan covering both is essential.

GK Questions for IAS

The GK questions asked in the IAS (Civil Services) exam are largely objective and conceptual rather than purely factual — they test whether you can connect a static fact to a current event. Practicing sectional MCQs like the ones above, combined with reading editorials and PIB releases, helps build the kind of applied general knowledge the IAS Prelims actually rewards.

CAPF Paper 2 Preparation

CAPF (AC) Paper 2 tests General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension together, so along with static GK, candidates need strong analytical and writing skills. Practicing essay writing on current issues, brushing up on internal security and disaster management topics, and revising the same GK areas covered in UPSC Prelims will help cover most of the CAPF Paper 2 syllabus as well.

Insight IAS Current Affairs Quiz

Daily current affairs quizzes from coaching platforms such as InsightsIAS are a useful supplement to static preparation, since they convert that day’s news into exam-style MCQs. Attempting such quizzes daily, along with maintaining a personal current affairs diary, helps retain news for a longer period and builds quiz-taking speed.

How to Prepare for UPSC Interview

UPSC interview preparation goes beyond GK it focuses on your Detailed Application Form (DAF), your optional subject, your home state and district, current affairs, and situational judgment. Mock interviews, staying updated on the day’s news, and being able to defend your opinions calmly and logically matter far more than memorized facts at this stage.

UPSC GK Question in Hindi

Many UPSC aspirants, especially those appearing for State PCS exams or preferring Hindi medium, look for GK questions in Hindi as well. The same set of MCQs above on Polity, History, Geography, Economy, and Current Affairs can be practiced in Hindi through Hindi-medium GK books and Hindi current affairs portals for equally effective preparation.

Drishti IAS Current Affairs Quiz

Drishti IAS is another popular source for daily and weekly current affairs quizzes, mains answer writing practice, and topic-wise current affairs compilations. Using Drishti IAS quizzes alongside InsightsIAS gives a broader coverage of news angles and helps cross-check your understanding of the same current event from different question styles.

GK for Government Exam

The same core GK areas Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Science, and Current Affairs — are tested across almost all government exams, including SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PCS, not just UPSC. Building a strong GK foundation once and revising it consistently lets you prepare for multiple government exams simultaneously without duplicating effort.

Practice Tips for GK in UPSC

Set a fixed daily slot for GK revision rather than studying it only occasionally. Use the “active recall” method quiz yourself instead of just re-reading notes. Maintain a single current affairs notebook updated weekly. Revisit wrong answers from practice MCQs after a few days to confirm the concept has actually stuck. And take full-length sectional tests under timed conditions at least twice a week as the exam approaches, since speed and accuracy together not just knowledge determine your final Prelims score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics are most important for UPSC GK preparation?

Polity, History, Geography, Economy, and Current Affairs carry the highest weightage in UPSC Prelims. Environment, Science & Technology, and Art & Culture are also frequently tested and should not be ignored.

How many GK questions are usually asked in UPSC Prelims?

The UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper-I typically has 100 questions, and a significant portion of these are based on static and current GK. Practicing sectional MCQs like the ones above helps build familiarity with the pattern.

Is current affairs more important than static GK for UPSC?

Both are equally important, since UPSC often links current events to static concepts in its questions. Ignoring either one can hurt your overall Prelims score.

How can I remember so many GK facts for UPSC?

Use short, self-made revision notes and revisit them frequently instead of just reading once. Active recall through quizzes, like attempting MCQs without checking answers first, also helps retention.

Are GK questions in UPSC Mains different from Prelims?

Yes, Mains GK questions are more analytical and descriptive, requiring explanation and opinion rather than just option selection. Prelims, on the other hand, tests objective recall and elimination skills through MCQs.

Conclusion

Scoring well in UPSC GK is less about memorizing endless facts and more about building a strong, well-revised foundation across Polity, History, Geography, Economy, and Current Affairs. The 70+ MCQs above give you a realistic sense of the question patterns and difficulty level you can expect in the actual exam.

Consistent practice matters far more than last-minute cramming, so make sectional quizzes like this a regular part of your study routine. Pair this with daily newspaper reading and a current affairs notebook to keep both static and dynamic GK fresh in your memory.

Whether you’re preparing for UPSC, CAPF, or any other government exam, the core GK syllabus overlaps significantly. Keep revisiting your weak areas, track your improvement over time, and trust the process steady, focused effort is what ultimately gets you across the Prelims cut-off.