NDA Examination Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) Syllabus

Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) in NDA Examination, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   National Current Affairs

   4 topics

   • Important National Events
     • Government schemes and policies
   • Indian Defence Updates
     • Military exercises and acquisitions
     • Indigenous weapons and systems
   • Personalities in News
     • Appointments and resignations
   • Government and Constitutional Developments
2. 2

   International Current Affairs

   4 topics

   • Important World Events
   • India and the World
     • Bilateral relations and treaties
     • International summits
   • International Organizations
     • UN, its agencies and other global bodies
   • Wars, Conflicts and Diplomacy
3. 3

   Awards, Sports and Culture

   4 topics

   • National and International Awards
     • Gallantry awards
     • Nobel and other major prizes
   • Sports Events and Achievements
     • Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games
   • Books, Authors and Cultural Events
   • Days, Themes and Observances
4. 4

   Static General Knowledge

   4 topics

   • Indian Armed Forces
     • Ranks and insignia of Army, Navy and Air Force
     • Commands, regiments and training academies
   • National Symbols and Important Institutions
   • Capitals, Currencies and Important Places
   • Abbreviations and Important Organizations

Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) flashcards for NDA Examination

24 of 50 cards from the Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces?

   The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

2. What are the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces and their respective service chiefs' titles?

   Army (headed by Chief of the Army Staff, COAS), Navy (Chief of the Naval Staff, CNS), and Air Force (Chief of the Air Staff, CAS).

3. What is the role of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in India, and who was the first CDS?

   The CDS is the single-point military adviser to the government and head of the Department of Military Affairs. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS (appointed Jan 2020).

4. Which agency conducts the NDA examination and how many times a year is it held?

   The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA exam twice a year.

5. What is the motto of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla?

   "Seva Paramo Dharma" (Service Before Self).

6. Name the highest gallantry award of India given for valour during war.

   The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime military gallantry award.

7. What is the highest peacetime gallantry award in India?

   The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime gallantry (bravery) award.

8. List India's highest civilian award and the order of the four civilian honours.

   Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award. The order is: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri.

9. What does the Indian national emblem depict, and from where is it adapted?

   It is adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, showing three visible lions; the words "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth Alone Triumphs) are inscribed below in Devanagari, from the Mundaka Upanishad.

10. What is India's national motto and its source?

    "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth Alone Triumphs), taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.

11. Who composed India's national anthem and national song, and what are they?

    National anthem "Jana Gana Mana" by Rabindranath Tagore; national song "Vande Mataram" by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

12. Name India's national animal, bird, flower, tree, fruit, and aquatic animal.

    Animal: Royal Bengal Tiger; Bird: Indian Peacock; Flower: Lotus; Tree: Banyan; Fruit: Mango; Aquatic animal: Ganges River Dolphin.

13. What is the function of the Election Commission of India and who heads it?

    It is a constitutional body (Article 324) that conducts elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President; it is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

14. What is the difference between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in terms of nature and term?

    Lok Sabha (House of the People) is directly elected with a 5-year term and can be dissolved; Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is a permanent body, not dissolved, with members serving 6-year terms (one-third retiring every 2 years).

15. How many fundamental rights are currently guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, and name them.

    Six: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies. (Right to Property was removed by the 44th Amendment.)

16. What is the significance of Article 370 and what happened to it in 2019?

    Article 370 gave special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir; it was effectively abrogated in August 2019, and J&K was reorganized into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

17. What is the headquarters and the founding year of the United Nations (UN)?

    The UN was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in New York City, USA.

18. Name the five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council.

    United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

19. What is BRICS, and which countries joined as new members in the 2024 expansion?

    BRICS is a bloc originally of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. In 2024 it expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE (and others), forming an enlarged grouping.

20. What is the QUAD and which four countries form it?

    The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is a strategic grouping of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, focused on a free and open Indo-Pacific.

21. Where is the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

    WHO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland; the IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA.

22. What does NATO stand for, and what is its core principle?

    North Atlantic Treaty Organization; its core principle is collective defence under Article 5 — an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

23. What is the SCO and which year did India become a full member?

    The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and security alliance; India became a full member in 2017.

24. Name the operation under which India evacuated its citizens from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war.

    Operation Ganga (2022).

See more Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) flashcards →

Planning Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) for NDA Examination

Current Events and General Awareness (General Ability Test) (NDA Examination) FAQ