India GK questions

GK by subject Updated 11 Oct 2026

These India GK questions cover the static facts about our country that come up again and again in school quizzes and in SSC, railway, bank and state exams. Every question has four options, one correct answer and a short explanation that tells you the fact behind it.

The questions are grouped into geography, history, national symbols, the Constitution, firsts in India, art and culture, and national parks, science and space. Only fixed facts are included, so the answers will not go out of date.

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India GK questions on geography

Q1. Among all Indian states, which one has the longest coastline along the sea?
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Answer: B. Gujarat
Gujarat, with the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat, has the longest coastline of any Indian state.
Q2. The narrow stretch of sea between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka is called what?
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Answer: C. Palk Strait
The narrow Palk Strait lies between Tamil Nadu and the northern tip of Sri Lanka.
Q3. The Tropic of Cancer runs through eight Indian states. Which of these is not among them?
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Answer: A. Bihar
The Tropic of Cancer crosses eight states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
Q4. Indira Point, the southern tip of Indian territory, lies on which island?
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Answer: D. Great Nicobar
Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost tip of India; Kanyakumari is the southern tip of the mainland.
Q5. Which is the largest state of India by area?
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Answer: B. Rajasthan
Rajasthan covers about 3.42 lakh square km, roughly one tenth of the area of India.
Q6. Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
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Answer: A. Kosi
The Kosi often changes its course and floods north Bihar, which earned it the name Sorrow of Bihar.
Q7. Which mountain range is traditionally seen as dividing North India from South India?
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Answer: D. Vindhya
The Vindhya range across central India has long been treated as the boundary between the north and the Deccan.
Q8. Chilika, the largest brackish water lagoon in India, is in which state?
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Answer: C. Odisha
Chilika Lake lies on the Odisha coast and is a major wintering ground for migratory birds.
Q9. Loktak Lake, famous for its floating phumdis, is in which state?
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Answer: D. Manipur
Loktak Lake in Manipur has floating masses of vegetation called phumdis, and Keibul Lamjao National Park floats on it.
Q10. Out of these peninsular rivers, which one drains westward into the Arabian Sea?
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Answer: C. Narmada
The Narmada flows west through a rift valley into the Gulf of Khambhat, while most peninsular rivers flow east into the Bay of Bengal.

India GK questions on history

Q11. Which ruler, guided by Chanakya, laid the foundation of the Maurya dynasty?
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Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire around 321 BCE with the help of his adviser Chanakya.
Q12. The East India Company gained control of Bengal after a battle at Plassey, a village on the Bhagirathi. When was it fought?
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Answer: A. 1757
At Plassey in 1757 the East India Company under Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.
Q13. In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place in Amritsar?
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Answer: C. 1919
On 13 April 1919 troops under General Dyer fired on an unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh.
Q14. Mahatma Gandhi began the Dandi March against the salt tax in which year?
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Answer: D. 1930
Gandhi set out from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930 and broke the salt law at Dandi on 6 April 1930.
Q15. Mahatma Gandhi gave the call "Do or Die" during which movement?
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Answer: B. Quit India Movement
Gandhi gave the call "Do or Die" in Bombay in August 1942, at the launch of the Quit India Movement.
Q16. Who held the post of Governor-General of India immediately after independence in August 1947?
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Answer: A. Lord Mountbatten
Lord Mountbatten served as Governor-General until June 1948, when C. Rajagopalachari became the first and only Indian to hold the post.
Q17. The founder of the Mughal Empire in India, Babur, won which battle in 1526?
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Answer: D. First Battle of Panipat
Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded Mughal rule in India.
Q18. Who wrote the song "Vande Mataram"?
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Answer: B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Vande Mataram, which appeared in his novel Anandamath in 1882.
Q19. A. O. Hume helped organise the first meeting of the Indian National Congress, held at Gokuldas Tejpal College, Bombay. In which year?
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Answer: C. 1885
The Indian National Congress held its first session in Bombay in December 1885.
Q20. The Taj Mahal at Agra was built by which Mughal emperor in memory of his wife?
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Answer: A. Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

National symbols of India

Q21. Which animal found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra has the status of India's national aquatic animal?
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Answer: A. Gangetic river dolphin
The Gangetic river dolphin, found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems, was declared the national aquatic animal in 2009.
Q22. In 2010, which animal was given the status of national heritage animal of India?
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Answer: D. Elephant
The elephant was declared the national heritage animal of India in 2010.
Q23. How many spokes are there in the Ashoka Chakra on the national flag?
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Answer: C. 24
The navy blue Ashoka Chakra in the centre of the tricolour has 24 spokes.
Q24. The national emblem of India is adapted from the Lion Capital found at which place?
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Answer: B. Sarnath
The emblem comes from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, near Varanasi.
Q25. India adopted which calendar as its national calendar in 1957?
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Answer: C. Saka calendar
The Saka calendar was adopted as the national calendar of India in 1957, alongside the Gregorian calendar.
Q26. Who wrote the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana"?
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Answer: A. Rabindranath Tagore
Jana Gana Mana was written in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted as the national anthem on 24 January 1950.
Q27. Which tree, known for its aerial roots, is the national tree of India?
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Answer: B. Banyan
The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), known for its spreading aerial roots, is the national tree of India.
Q28. The motto "Satyameva Jayate" below the national emblem is taken from which text?
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Answer: D. Mundaka Upanishad
Satyameva Jayate, meaning "truth alone triumphs", is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.

India GK questions on the Constitution

Q29. Republic Day marks the date on which the Constitution of India came into force. What is that date?
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Answer: B. 26 January 1950
The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated every year as Republic Day.
Q30. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on which date?
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Answer: D. 26 November 1949
It was adopted on 26 November 1949, now observed as Constitution Day.
Q31. Which leader headed the Drafting Committee that prepared the Constitution of India?
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Answer: C. B. R. Ambedkar
Dr B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee and is called the chief architect of the Constitution.
Q32. Who was elected the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly?
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Answer: A. Rajendra Prasad
Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent President in December 1946; Sachchidananda Sinha had been the temporary chairman.
Q33. Which Part of the Constitution of India contains the Fundamental Rights?
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Answer: C. Part III
Fundamental Rights are listed in Part III, covering Articles 12 to 35.
Q34. Which Article of the Constitution abolishes untouchability?
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Answer: B. Article 17
Article 17 abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form.
Q35. Which Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 inserted the Fundamental Duties?
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Answer: A. 42nd Amendment
The 42nd Amendment of 1976 added Part IV A with the Fundamental Duties, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.
Q36. What is the minimum age to become the President of India?
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Answer: D. 35 years
Article 58 requires a candidate for President to have completed 35 years of age.

First in India GK questions

Q37. Who became President of India when the country became a republic in 1950?
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Answer: A. Rajendra Prasad
Dr Rajendra Prasad served as President from 1950 to 1962, the only person to hold the office for two full terms.
Q38. Which Indian won a Nobel Prize first, receiving the Literature prize in 1913?
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Answer: B. Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali.
Q39. Who was the first Indian citizen to travel into space?
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Answer: D. Rakesh Sharma
Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 in April 1984.
Q40. What was the name of the first satellite made by India?
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Answer: C. Aryabhata
Aryabhata, named after the ancient astronomer, was launched in April 1975 with help from the Soviet Union.
Q41. In May 1984, which Indian woman became the first from the country to reach the top of Mount Everest?
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Answer: D. Bachendri Pal
Bachendri Pal reached the summit of Everest on 23 May 1984.
Q42. Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal?
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Answer: A. Abhinav Bindra
Abhinav Bindra won gold in the 10 m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Q43. Who was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal?
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Answer: C. Sam Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw became Field Marshal in January 1973; K. M. Cariappa received the rank later, in 1986.
Q44. Who was the first Indian to become Governor-General of India?
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Answer: B. C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten in June 1948 and held the post until India became a republic in 1950.

Art, culture and heritage of India

Q45. The classical dance Kathakali, with its green painted faces, belongs to which state?
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Answer: A. Kerala
Kathakali from Kerala is known for elaborate face make-up, large costumes and stories from the epics.
Q46. Bihu is the main festival and folk dance of which state?
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Answer: C. Assam
Bihu is celebrated in Assam three times a year, with Rongali Bihu in April marking the Assamese new year.
Q47. The Ajanta caves, famous for Buddhist paintings, are located in which state?
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Answer: D. Maharashtra
The Ajanta caves near Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in Maharashtra contain rock-cut Buddhist monasteries and murals.
Q48. The Konark Sun Temple, built in the shape of a giant chariot, is in which state?
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Answer: B. Odisha
The 13th century Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
Q49. Who wrote the patriotic poem "Saare Jahan Se Achha"?
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Answer: B. Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal wrote Saare Jahan Se Achha, also called Tarana-e-Hind, in 1904.
Q50. The Hornbill Festival is celebrated in which state?
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Answer: C. Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival is held in Nagaland every December and showcases the culture of its Naga tribes.

National parks, science and space

Q51. Which national park in Assam is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros?
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Answer: D. Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga in Assam is home to the largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
Q52. Gir National Park, the only natural home of the Asiatic lion, is in which state?
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Answer: A. Gujarat
Gir forest in Gujarat is the only place where Asiatic lions live in the wild.
Q53. Which was the first national park established in India?
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Answer: A. Jim Corbett National Park
Set up in 1936 as Hailey National Park in Uttarakhand, it was later renamed after Jim Corbett.
Q54. In which year was the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up?
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Answer: C. 1969
ISRO was established on 15 August 1969 under the guidance of Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme.
Q55. India conducted its first nuclear test, called Smiling Buddha, at Pokhran in which year?
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Answer: B. 1974
India carried out its first nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan on 18 May 1974.
Q56. In which year was India's first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, launched?
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Answer: D. 2008
Chandrayaan-1 was launched in October 2008 and helped confirm the presence of water molecules on the Moon.

How to prepare

Use these questions to test yourself, not just to read. Cover the options, think of the answer, and then check. Each time you get one wrong, write the fact in a small notebook of India GK and revise it once a week. Facts are easier to remember in groups, so learn all the national symbols together, all the classical dances with their states together, and the main dates of the freedom struggle in order.

For exams, India GK questions are usually direct, so speed matters. Revise the Constitution section (key articles, amendments and dates) and the first in India list carefully, as these are favourites in SSC and state exams.

Study tips

Learn related facts in groups, such as all national symbols or all classical dances, so they reinforce each other.
Keep a timeline of the freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947 and revise it often.
Use a blank map of India to mark rivers, lakes, national parks and the Tropic of Cancer.

Questions people ask

What are the most important India GK questions for exams?

Questions on national symbols, important dates of the freedom struggle, key articles of the Constitution, rivers and lakes, classical dances and firsts in India are asked most often. These are static facts, so they are worth learning thoroughly.

Are these India GK questions suitable for students?

Yes. Most questions are simple enough for school students from class 5 upwards, while the Constitution and history sections are also useful for SSC, railway and state exams.

How can I remember first in India GK facts?

Make a list with the person, the achievement and the year, and revise it regularly. Linking each first to a story, such as Rakesh Sharma's 1984 space flight, makes it easier to recall.

Why are there no questions about current ministers?

Office holders change over time, so such answers go out of date quickly. This page sticks to static facts that stay correct, which is what most school quizzes and static GK sections test.

How should I prepare India GK for SSC exams?

Revise static GK topics one by one, practise MCQs daily and go through previous year papers. Focus on history, geography, the Constitution and national symbols, which carry most of the static GK marks.

Every question on this page is written and fact-checked by the GK Quizzes team. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it. How we make our questions.