⚡ Quick quiz

Test yourself in under a minute: SSC CGL General Awareness Practice Test

Six fresh recall checks spanning Polity, Geography, Economy, Science, Computer Awareness and Modern History, none repeated from the main question set above.

1. 1. What is the maximum number of members the Rajya Sabha can have, as fixed by the Constitution?

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2. 2. Which is the largest Indian state by area?

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3. 3. Which period does India's official financial year cover?

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4. 4. What is the pH value of a neutral solution, such as pure water?

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5. 5. What does "URL" stand for in internet terminology?

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6. 6. Who was the only Indian to serve as Governor-General of independent India?

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Ancient to Modern History, Physical Geography and Constitutional Basics

Questions 1-9 cover milestone events from the Maurya and Mughal empires through the freedom struggle, India's major rivers and peaks, and core constitutional provisions on rights and the presidency.

1. 1. Who founded the Maurya Empire in ancient India?

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   Chandragupta Maurya🔊

   He founded the Maurya Empire around 321 BCE after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty, guided by his mentor Chanakya (Kautilya). The empire later reached its greatest extent under his grandson, Ashoka.

2. 2. During the medieval period, who founded the Mughal Empire in India?

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   Babur🔊

   Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 to establish Mughal rule in India. His dynasty went on to govern large parts of the subcontinent for over three centuries.

3. 3. Which movement did Mahatma Gandhi launch in 1930 that included the Dandi March?

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   Civil Disobedience Movement🔊

   Gandhi walked roughly 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi to break the British salt law by making salt himself. The march sparked a nationwide campaign of nonviolent resistance against colonial rule.

4. 4. Which river is regarded as the longest river flowing entirely within India?

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   Godavari🔊

   The Godavari rises in the Nashik district of Maharashtra and flows about 1,465 km eastward before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. Its entire course lies within India, which is why it is recognised as the longest river whose source, path, and mouth all fall within Indian territory.

5. 5. Kangchenjunga, the highest mountain peak located within Indian territory, lies on the border of Sikkim and which country?

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   Nepal🔊

   Standing at about 8,586 metres, Kangchenjunga is the highest peak situated in India and the third-highest mountain in the world. It forms part of the great Himalayan range along India's northern frontier.

6. 6. How many Fundamental Rights are currently guaranteed by the Indian Constitution?

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   Six🔊

   The Constitution originally listed seven Fundamental Rights, but the Right to Property was removed by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 and made a legal right under Article 300A instead. The remaining six include the Right to Equality and the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

7. 7. What is the minimum age required to become the President of India?

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   35 years🔊

   Article 58 of the Constitution requires a presidential candidate to be at least 35 years old, a citizen of India, and qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha. The President serves a five-year term after being chosen by an electoral college.

8. 8. Which Article of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability?

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   Article 17🔊

   Article 17 abolishes untouchability in every form and makes its practice an offence punishable by law. It sits within Part III of the Constitution under the Right to Equality.

9. 9. Who is regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution" for chairing its Drafting Committee?

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   Dr. B. R. Ambedkar🔊

   Ambedkar led the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly and was central to shaping the document that was adopted on 26 November 1949. He subsequently served as independent India's first Law Minister.

Economic Institutions, Planning and General Science

Questions 10-17 test knowledge of the RBI, Five-Year Plans, GST and NITI Aayog alongside foundational physics, chemistry and biology facts frequently asked in Tier 1.

1. 1. In which year was the Reserve Bank of India established?

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   1935🔊

   The RBI commenced operations on 1 April 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, initially as a privately owned institution before its nationalisation in 1949. It functions as India's central bank, overseeing monetary policy and currency issuance.

2. 2. The First Five-Year Plan of India (1951-56) gave the highest priority to which sector?

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   Agriculture🔊

   Drawing partly on the Harrod-Domar growth model, the plan focused on agricultural output, irrigation, and power generation to address disruptions caused by Partition. It is widely regarded as successful, with growth exceeding its own target.

3. 3. On what date was the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemented across India?

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   1 July 2017🔊

   GST replaced a range of indirect taxes, including excise duty, service tax, and VAT, with a single unified structure under the principle of "One Nation, One Tax". It is administered through the GST Council, chaired by the Union Finance Minister with state finance ministers as members.

4. 4. NITI Aayog replaced which erstwhile planning institution in 2015?

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   The Planning Commission🔊

   NITI Aayog, short for the National Institution for Transforming India, was created as a policy think tank to promote cooperative federalism in place of the Planning Commission, which had functioned since 1950. Unlike its predecessor, it has no authority to allocate funds directly to states.

5. 5. What is the SI unit of electric current?

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   Ampere🔊

   Named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère, this unit measures the rate at which electric charge flows through a conductor. One ampere equals one coulomb of charge passing a given point every second.

6. 6. Which cell organelle is known as the "powerhouse of the cell"?

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   Mitochondria🔊

   Mitochondria produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell, through cellular respiration. They carry their own DNA and are thought to have originated from free-living bacteria absorbed by early cells.

7. 7. What is the chemical formula of common table salt?

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   NaCl (Sodium Chloride)🔊

   Table salt is an ionic compound made up of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions held together in a crystal lattice. It plays a vital role in nerve signalling and fluid balance within the human body.

8. 8. A deficiency of which vitamin causes the disease scurvy?

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   Vitamin C🔊

   Extended lack of vitamin C weakens collagen production, resulting in bleeding gums, joint pain, and slow wound healing. Sailors on long voyages historically suffered from scurvy until citrus fruits were recognised as an effective remedy.

Computer Awareness, Current Affairs & Miscellaneous GK

Questions 18-25 check familiarity with everyday computing terms, recent national events, India's top sporting and civilian awards, and evergreen facts about the Lok Sabha term and Olympic cycles.

Note: Basic computer acronyms occasionally appear in Tier 1 General Awareness, but full Computer Knowledge is tested as a separate, mandatory qualifying module (20 Questions / 60 Marks) in SSC CGL Tier 2.

1. 1. What does "CPU" stand for in computer terminology?

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   Central Processing Unit🔊

   Often called the "brain" of a computer, the CPU carries out program instructions by performing arithmetic, logic, and control operations. Modern CPUs typically contain multiple cores to handle several tasks at once.

2. 2. In computing, what does "RAM" stand for?

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   Random Access Memory🔊

   RAM is a type of volatile memory that temporarily holds data and instructions a computer needs while programs are running, enabling fast read and write access. Its contents are erased once the device loses power, unlike data on a storage drive.

3. 3. In the National Sports Awards 2025, which top sporting honour went unconferred for only the third time in its history?

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   The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award🔊

   The Sports Ministry's 2025 list, announced in August 2026, named 17 athletes for the Arjuna Award but recommended no recipient for the Khel Ratna. This was only the third time in the award's history that this has happened, after 2008 and 2014.

4. 4. What fiscal deficit target did the Union Budget 2026-27 set, as a percentage of GDP?

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   4.3% of GDP🔊

   This was lower than the revised estimate of 4.4% of GDP for 2025-26, continuing the government's gradual fiscal consolidation path. The same Budget projected real GDP growth for 2026-27 in the 6.8-7.2% range.

5. 5. Which award is considered India's highest sporting honour, given for spectacular performance over a period of years?

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   Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award🔊

   Instituted in 1991-92 as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the award was renamed in 2021 in tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. It continues to be the highest sporting honour conferred by the Government of India, though it was not awarded in 2025.

6. 6. What is the highest civilian award in India?

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   Bharat Ratna🔊

   Instituted in 1954, the Bharat Ratna recognises exceptional service in fields such as art, literature, science, and public affairs. It carries no monetary grant and is conferred sparingly, with only a handful of recipients in most years.

7. 7. What is the normal constitutional term of the Lok Sabha before it must face fresh elections?

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   Five years🔊

   Article 83 fixes the ordinary term of the Lok Sabha at five years from the date of its first sitting, unless it is dissolved sooner. This term can be extended only during a national emergency, one year at a time, by an act of Parliament.

8. 8. The Summer Olympic Games are held once every how many years?

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   Four years🔊

   Apart from cancellations during the two World Wars, the International Olympic Committee has kept to this four-year cycle since the modern Games began in Athens in 1896. This four-year span, known as an Olympiad, also governs the staggered schedule of the Winter Games.