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General Knowledge Questions with Answers
103+ hand-picked GK questions on India, history, science and more. Tap a question, think for a second, then reveal. Honestly, that's the fastest way we know to make facts stick.
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- 2026
What are General Knowledge Questions?
General knowledge questions are short questions about the world around us — who built the Taj Mahal, which planet is red, when the Constitution came into force. Simple stuff. Or so it seems, until someone asks you at a family dinner and your mind goes blank.
We've all been there. My cousin once confidently said hockey is India's official national game. (It isn't — check question 79.) That tiny moment is exactly why we built this page: general knowledge isn't about memorising a fat book. It's about small, repeatable wins.
Whether you're preparing for SSC, Railway, UPSC prelims, bank exams, a school quiz, or you just love trivia, these GK questions with answers are grouped by topic so you can go deep where you're weak. Short answers. No fluff.
103+ GK Questions with Answers
Pick a topic or search. Click any question to reveal the answer.
01IndiaWhat is the capital of India?
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New Delhi is the capital of India. It became the capital in 1931, replacing Calcutta (Kolkata).
02IndiaWhat is the national animal of India?
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The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the national animal of India.
03IndiaWhat is the national bird of India?
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The Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the national bird of India.
04IndiaWhat is the national flower of India?
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The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the national flower of India.
05IndiaWhat is the national fruit of India?
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The Mango is the national fruit of India.
06IndiaWhat is the national tree of India?
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The Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is the national tree of India.
07IndiaWhat is the national aquatic animal of India?
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The Ganges River Dolphin is India's national aquatic animal.
08IndiaWho wrote India's national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'?
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Rabindranath Tagore wrote 'Jana Gana Mana'. It was adopted as the national anthem on 24 January 1950.
09IndiaWho wrote the national song 'Vande Mataram'?
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Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote 'Vande Mataram', which appeared in his novel Anandamath.
10IndiaHow many spokes are there in the Ashoka Chakra on the Indian flag?
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The Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes.
11IndiaWho designed the Indian national flag?
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Pingali Venkayya is credited with designing the Indian national flag.
12IndiaHow many states are there in India?
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India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
13IndiaWhich is the largest state of India by area?
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Rajasthan is the largest state of India by area.
14IndiaWhich is the smallest state of India by area?
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Goa is the smallest state of India by area.
15IndiaWhich is the most populous state in India?
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Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India.
16IndiaWhat is the national emblem of India adapted from?
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It is adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
17IndiaWhat is the motto written below India's national emblem?
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'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth Alone Triumphs), taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.
18HistoryWho is known as the Father of the Nation in India?
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Mahatma Gandhi is known as the Father of the Nation.
19HistoryWhen did India get independence?
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India became independent on 15 August 1947.
20HistoryWho was the first Prime Minister of India?
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Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India.
21HistoryWho was the first President of India?
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Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India.
22HistoryWho was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
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Indira Gandhi became India's first woman Prime Minister in 1966.
23HistoryWho is known as the Iron Man of India?
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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who unified over 560 princely states.
24HistoryIn which year did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
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The Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar.
25HistoryWhen did the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) begin?
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Gandhi began the Dandi March on 12 March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram.
26HistoryWhen was the Quit India Movement launched?
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The Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942.
27HistoryWho founded the Maurya Empire?
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Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 322 BCE.
28HistoryWho built the Taj Mahal?
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Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
29HistoryWho founded the Mughal Empire in India?
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Babur founded the Mughal Empire after the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
30HistoryWho gave the slogan 'Give me blood, and I will give you freedom'?
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Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
31HistoryWho gave the slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright'?
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Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
32HistoryIn which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
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The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885.
33HistoryWhich ancient civilisation flourished at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?
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The Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation.
34HistoryWho was the founder of the Maratha Empire?
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
35HistoryWho was the last Governor-General of independent India?
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C. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India.
36GeographyWhich is the longest river in India?
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The Ganga is the longest river in India, about 2,525 km long.
37GeographyWhich is the highest mountain peak in India?
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Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest peak located in India.
38GeographyWhich is the largest desert in India?
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The Thar Desert, mostly in Rajasthan.
39GeographyWhich is the southernmost point of India?
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Indira Point in the Great Nicobar Island.
40GeographyWhich Indian state has the longest coastline?
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Gujarat has the longest coastline in India.
41GeographyWhich place receives the highest rainfall in India?
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Mawsynram in Meghalaya.
42GeographyWhich is the largest freshwater lake in India?
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Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
43GeographyWhich is the largest saltwater lake in India?
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Chilika Lake in Odisha.
44GeographyWhich line separates India and Pakistan?
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The Radcliffe Line.
45GeographyWhich line separates India and China?
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The McMahon Line (in the eastern sector).
46GeographyWhich Indian city is called the 'Pink City'?
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Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.
47GeographyWhich city is known as the 'Silicon Valley of India'?
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Bengaluru (Bangalore).
48GeographyWhich is the largest continent in the world?
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Asia is the largest continent by area and population.
49GeographyWhich is the largest ocean in the world?
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The Pacific Ocean.
50GeographyWhich river is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar'?
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The Kosi River.
51GeographyWhich Indian state is known as the 'Land of Five Rivers'?
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Punjab.
52PolityWhen did the Constitution of India come into force?
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On 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day.
53PolityWho is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
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Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
54PolityHow many Fundamental Rights are there in the Indian Constitution?
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There are six Fundamental Rights.
55PolityWhich Article of the Constitution abolishes untouchability?
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Article 17.
56PolityWhat is the minimum age to become the President of India?
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35 years.
57PolityWhat is the minimum voting age in India?
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18 years, after the 61st Amendment (1988).
58PolityWho appoints the Chief Justice of India?
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The President of India.
59PolityWhat is the upper house of Indian Parliament called?
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The Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
60PolityWhat is the lower house of Indian Parliament called?
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The Lok Sabha (House of the People).
61PolityHow long is the term of a Lok Sabha member?
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Five years, unless dissolved earlier.
62PolityWho presides over the Rajya Sabha?
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The Vice-President of India, as its ex-officio Chairman.
63PolityWhich Article deals with the Right to Constitutional Remedies?
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Article 32, which Dr. Ambedkar called the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.
64ScienceWhich planet is known as the Red Planet?
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Mars.
65ScienceWhich is the largest planet in our solar system?
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Jupiter.
66ScienceWhat is the chemical formula of water?
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H₂O — two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
67ScienceWhich gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere?
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Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
68ScienceWhat is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
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Diamond.
69ScienceWho is known as the Missile Man of India?
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Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
70ScienceWhat was the name of India's first satellite?
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Aryabhata, launched in 1975.
71ScienceWhich Indian mission landed near the Moon's south pole in 2023?
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Chandrayaan-3, on 23 August 2023.
72ScienceWho won the Nobel Prize in Physics for the Raman Effect?
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Sir C. V. Raman, in 1930.
73ScienceWhat is the powerhouse of the cell?
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The mitochondria.
74ScienceHow many bones are there in an adult human body?
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206 bones.
75ScienceWhich vitamin do we get from sunlight?
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Vitamin D.
76ScienceWhat is the speed of light in a vacuum?
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About 3 × 10⁸ metres per second.
77ScienceWhere is ISRO headquartered?
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Bengaluru, Karnataka.
78ScienceWhat was India's first solar mission called?
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Aditya-L1, launched in 2023.
79SportsWhat is the national game of India?
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India has no officially declared national game, though hockey is widely believed to be one.
80SportsWho is called the 'God of Cricket'?
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Sachin Tendulkar.
81SportsIn which year did India win its first Cricket World Cup?
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1983, under Kapil Dev's captaincy.
82SportsWho won India's first individual Olympic gold medal?
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Abhinav Bindra, in 10 m air rifle at Beijing 2008.
83SportsWho won gold in javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020?
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Neeraj Chopra.
84SportsWho is known as the 'Wizard of Hockey'?
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Major Dhyan Chand.
85SportsWhich is India's highest sporting honour?
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The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
86SportsHow many players are there in a cricket team on the field?
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Eleven players per side.
87SportsNational Sports Day in India is celebrated on which date?
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29 August, Major Dhyan Chand's birthday.
88SportsWhich Indian chess player became World Champion in 2024?
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D. Gukesh, at the age of 18.
89EconomyWhat is the currency of India?
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The Indian Rupee (₹, INR).
90EconomyWhich bank is the central bank of India?
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), established on 1 April 1935.
91EconomyWho signs the Indian currency notes (except ₹1)?
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The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
92EconomyWhen was GST introduced in India?
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On 1 July 2017.
93EconomyWhat does UPI stand for?
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Unified Payments Interface, developed by NPCI.
94EconomyWhere is the Bombay Stock Exchange located?
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Dalal Street, Mumbai. It is Asia's oldest stock exchange (1875).
95EconomyWhich body replaced the Planning Commission in India?
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NITI Aayog, in January 2015.
96CultureWhich is the classical dance form of Kerala?
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Kathakali (Mohiniyattam is also from Kerala).
97CultureBharatanatyam is the classical dance of which state?
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Tamil Nadu.
98CultureWhich festival is known as the 'Festival of Lights'?
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Diwali (Deepavali).
99CultureWho wrote the epic Ramayana?
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Maharishi Valmiki.
100CultureWho wrote the Mahabharata?
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Maharishi Ved Vyasa.
101CultureWho was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize?
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Rabindranath Tagore, Literature, 1913, for Gitanjali.
102CultureWhich is India's highest civilian award?
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The Bharat Ratna.
103CulturePongal is mainly celebrated in which state?
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Tamil Nadu.
100 Easy General Knowledge Questions with Answers — Start Here
New to GK? Begin with the national symbols. They're the questions that show up again and again, in Class 5 quizzes and in competitive exams alike. Get these 12 right and, I'd say, you've already beaten half the room.
- capital of India?New Delhi is the capital of India
- national animal of India?The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the national animal of India
- national bird of India?The Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the national bird of India
- national flower of India?The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the national flower of India
- national fruit of India?The Mango is the national fruit of India
- national tree of India?The Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is the national tree of India
- national aquatic animal of India?The Ganges River Dolphin is India's national aquatic animal
- Who wrote India's national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'?Rabindranath Tagore wrote 'Jana Gana Mana'
- Who wrote the national song 'Vande Mataram'?Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote 'Vande Mataram', which appeared in his novel Anandamath
- How many spokes are there in the Ashoka Chakra on the Indian flag?The Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes
- Who designed the Indian national flag?Pingali Venkayya is credited with designing the Indian national flag
- How many states are there in India?India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories
How to Prepare General Knowledge (Without Getting Bored)
Here's what's genuinely worked for students we've spoken to. Not magic — just habits.
- 1
10 questions a day. That's it. Consistency beats marathon sessions — 10 a day is 300 a month.
- 2
Guess before you reveal. Even a wrong guess makes the right answer stick better. Weird, but true.
- 3
Read one newspaper page. The Hindu or Indian Express editorial page is plenty for current affairs.
- 4
Link facts into stories. Dandi March, 1930, salt — picture Gandhi walking 390 km. Stories beat lists.
- 5
Revise on Sundays. Re-open the questions you got wrong. Probably the most underrated step.
Which topics matter most for exams?
In our opinion, Indian Polity and Modern History give the best return for SSC and UPSC. Geography and science come next. Sports and awards? Quick wins — a few minutes before the exam can often earn you two or three marks.
Frequently Asked Questions about GK
What are the best general knowledge questions for students?
Start with India's national symbols, freedom struggle, Constitution basics and the solar system. They're easy, common in exams and build confidence.
Are these GK questions useful for competitive exams?
Yes. They cover static GK asked in SSC, RRB, banking, state PSC and UPSC prelims. Pair them with current affairs for the best result.
How many GK questions should I practise daily?
Around 10–20 questions a day works well for most learners. Revise wrong ones weekly.
Is this general knowledge quiz free?
Completely free. No sign-up needed — just open a question and reveal the answer.