CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam General Knowledge Syllabus

General Knowledge syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Knowledge in CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Indian History and Freedom Struggle

   4 topics

   • Ancient and Medieval India
     • Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic age
     • Mauryan and Gupta empires
     • Delhi Sultanate and Mughal empire
   • Modern India and British Rule
     • Advent of European powers and Battle of Plassey
     • Revolt of 1857 and aftermath
   • Indian National Movement
     • Formation of Indian National Congress
     • Gandhian movements: Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
     • Revolutionary movements and partition
   • Socio-Religious Reform Movements
     • Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and reformers
2. 2

   Indian Polity and Constitution

   5 topics

   • Making of the Constitution
     • Constituent Assembly and sources
     • Preamble, features and amendments
   • Fundamental Rights, Duties and DPSP
     • Articles 12-35 on rights
     • Directive Principles of State Policy
   • Union and State Government
     • President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
     • Parliament: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
     • Governor, Chief Minister and State legislature
   • Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies
     • Supreme Court and High Courts
     • Election Commission, CAG, UPSC, Finance Commission
   • Local Governance and Federalism
     • Panchayati Raj and 73rd/74th Amendments
3. 3

   Geography

   4 topics

   • Physical Geography of the World
     • Earth's interior, latitudes and longitudes
     • Atmosphere, climate and ocean currents
     • Landforms and rock systems
   • Geography of India
     • Physiographic divisions and rivers
     • Climate, monsoon and soils
     • Natural vegetation and wildlife
   • Economic and Resource Geography
     • Agriculture and cropping patterns
     • Minerals, energy and industries
   • Map and Locational Awareness
     • Important cities, ports and boundaries
4. 4

   Indian Economy

   4 topics

   • Basic Economic Concepts
     • National income: GDP, GNP, NNP
     • Inflation, fiscal and monetary policy
   • Planning and Development
     • Five-Year Plans and NITI Aayog
     • Poverty, unemployment and government schemes
   • Banking and Finance
     • RBI, money supply and budget
     • Taxation and GST
   • External Sector
     • Balance of payments and foreign trade
5. 5

   Current Affairs and Defence Awareness

   4 topics

   • National and International Current Events
     • Government schemes and policy decisions
     • Summits, treaties and international organizations
   • Defence and Security
     • Indian Army, Navy and Air Force structure
     • Military exercises, missiles and indigenous defence systems
     • DRDO, HAL and defence acquisitions
   • Awards, Sports and Books
     • Gallantry awards and civilian honours
     • Major sports events and personalities
   • Science and Technology in News
     • ISRO missions and space programmes
     • Recent scientific developments
6. 6

   General Science

   4 topics

   • Physics Fundamentals
     • Motion, force, work and energy
     • Light, sound, heat and electricity
   • Chemistry Fundamentals
     • Matter, atoms and chemical reactions
     • Acids, bases, metals and everyday chemistry
   • Biology Fundamentals
     • Cell, human body systems and nutrition
     • Diseases, vitamins and microorganisms
   • Applied and Environmental Science
     • Ecology, ecosystems and pollution
     • Recent everyday-life science applications

General Knowledge flashcards for CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam

20 of 50 cards from the General Knowledge deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which Indus Valley site is known for its great bath and granary, and which is known for the dockyard?

   Mohenjo-daro is famous for the Great Bath and granary; Lothal (in Gujarat) is known for its dockyard.

2. Who founded the Maurya Empire and who was his chief minister/advisor?

   Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire (c. 322 BCE); his advisor was Chanakya (Kautilya), author of the Arthashastra.

3. The Gupta period is called the 'Golden Age' of India. Name two great figures of science/literature from that era.

   Aryabhata (astronomer-mathematician) and Kalidasa (Sanskrit poet/dramatist, author of Abhijnanashakuntalam).

4. Which battle in 1526 established the Mughal Empire in India, and who fought it?

   The First Battle of Panipat (1526), in which Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate.

5. Who introduced the Mansabdari system in Mughal administration?

   Emperor Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system to organize the nobility and military ranks.

6. Which British policy, used by Lord Dalhousie, allowed annexation of states whose rulers died without a natural heir?

   The Doctrine of Lapse.

7. In which year was the Battle of Plassey fought and who were the main parties?

   1757; Robert Clive's British East India Company defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.

8. What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857?

   The introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges greased with cow and pig fat, offending both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

9. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded and by whom?

   1885, founded by A.O. Hume (with the first session presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee).

10. Which event in 1919 saw General Dyer order firing on an unarmed crowd in Amritsar?

    The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

11. What did the Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) of 1930 protest, and who led it?

    It protested the British salt tax/monopoly; led by Mahatma Gandhi, who marched to Dandi to make salt.

12. With which slogan and year is the Quit India Movement associated?

    'Do or Die'; launched in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi.

13. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj and what social evil did he campaign to abolish?

    Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828); he campaigned to abolish Sati.

14. Who founded the Arya Samaj and what was its key slogan?

    Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1875); slogan 'Back to the Vedas'.

15. How long did it take the Constituent Assembly to frame the Indian Constitution, and on what date did it come into force?

    About 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days; it came into force on 26 January 1950.

16. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?

    Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

17. From which country's constitution did India borrow the idea of Fundamental Rights and the office of the Directive Principles?

    Fundamental Rights from the USA; Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) from Ireland.

18. Which Article of the Indian Constitution is called the 'Right to Constitutional Remedies', and what did Ambedkar call it?

    Article 32; Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.

19. Which Amendment added Fundamental Duties to the Constitution and in what year?

    The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 (added Part IV-A, Article 51A).

20. What is the minimum age to be elected as President of India and as a member of the Lok Sabha?

    35 years for President; 25 years for Lok Sabha membership.

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