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UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) Syllabus

The General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) syllabus for UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) in full: 4 chapters, 18 topics and 4 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 50 General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) flashcards with answers.

4Chapters
18Topics
4Sub-topics
50Flashcards

General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Physics

     4 topics
    • Units, Measurement, Motion and Force
      • Newton's laws of motion
      • Work, energy and power
    • Heat, Light and Sound
    • Electricity and Magnetism
    • Modern Physics and Everyday Applications

  2. Chemistry

     5 topics
    • Matter: States, Elements and Compounds
    • Atomic Structure and Periodic Table
    • Acids, Bases, Salts and Chemical Reactions
    • Metals, Non-Metals and Common Compounds
    • Chemistry in Daily Life

  3. Biology

     5 topics
    • Cell Structure and Classification of Organisms
    • Human Body Systems and Nutrition
      • Digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
      • Vitamins, deficiency diseases and balanced diet
    • Plant Physiology and Photosynthesis
    • Diseases, Pathogens and Immunity
    • Genetics and Heredity Basics

  4. Environment and Applied Science

     4 topics
    • Ecosystems and Biodiversity
    • Environmental Pollution and Climate Change
    • Science and Technology Developments
    • Space and Defence Technology

UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) flashcards — 50 questions with answers

  1. What are the SI base units for length, mass, and time?

    Metre (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, and second (s) for time.

  2. State Newton's three laws of motion.

    1) A body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a net external force (inertia). 2) Force = mass x acceleration (F = ma). 3) Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

  3. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

    Speed is the rate of change of distance (scalar, magnitude only). Velocity is the rate of change of displacement (vector, magnitude and direction).

  4. State the formula for momentum and its SI unit.

    Momentum p = mass x velocity (p = mv). SI unit is kilogram metre per second (kg m/s).

  5. What is the acceleration due to gravity (g) on Earth's surface?

    Approximately 9.8 m/s squared (often taken as 9.81 m/s squared).

  6. State the difference between mass and weight.

    Mass is the amount of matter in a body (kg, constant everywhere). Weight is the gravitational force on it (W = mg, in newtons, varies with g).

  7. What are the three modes of heat transfer?

    Conduction (through solids by contact), convection (through fluids by movement of particles), and radiation (through electromagnetic waves, no medium needed).

  8. Define specific heat capacity.

    The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1 kelvin).

  9. Convert 0 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius to the Kelvin scale.

    0 degrees C = 273.15 K and 100 degrees C = 373.15 K.

  10. What is the difference between reflection and refraction of light?

    Reflection is the bouncing back of light from a surface. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.

  11. What type of lens corrects myopia (short-sightedness) and hypermetropia (long-sightedness)?

    Myopia is corrected with a concave (diverging) lens; hypermetropia is corrected with a convex (converging) lens.

  12. Why is the sky blue?

    Due to the scattering of sunlight by air molecules (Rayleigh scattering); blue light, having a shorter wavelength, is scattered more than other colours.

  13. What is the audible range of frequency for the human ear?

    Approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

  14. Differentiate between ultrasonic and infrasonic sound.

    Infrasonic sound has a frequency below 20 Hz; ultrasonic sound has a frequency above 20,000 Hz. Both are inaudible to humans.

  15. State Ohm's law and its formula.

    At constant temperature, the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it: V = IR, where R is resistance.

  16. What is the SI unit of electric current, and what is the unit of resistance?

    The SI unit of current is the ampere (A); the SI unit of resistance is the ohm (symbol omega).

  17. State the formula for electric power in terms of voltage and current.

    Power P = Voltage x Current (P = VI), measured in watts. It can also be written as P = I squared R or V squared / R.

  18. What is the difference between AC and DC current?

    In alternating current (AC) the direction of flow reverses periodically; in direct current (DC) the current flows in only one direction.

  19. Name the poles of a magnet and state the basic law of magnetism.

    A magnet has a north pole and a south pole. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

  20. What is Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation?

    E = mc squared, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light in vacuum.

Show the other 30 General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) flashcards

  1. What is the approximate speed of light in vacuum?

    Approximately 3 x 10 to the 8 metres per second (300,000 km/s).

  2. What is the photoelectric effect?

    The emission of electrons from a metal surface when light of suitable frequency falls on it; explained by Einstein using the quantum (photon) theory of light.

  3. What principle is used in optical fibres for data transmission?

    Total internal reflection of light within the fibre.

  4. Name the three states of matter and the process names for solid-to-gas and gas-to-liquid changes.

    Solid, liquid, and gas. Solid-to-gas directly is sublimation; gas-to-liquid is condensation.

  5. What is the difference between an element, a compound, and a mixture?

    An element is made of one kind of atom; a compound is two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio; a mixture is two or more substances physically combined in any ratio.

  6. Name the three subatomic particles and their electric charges.

    Proton (positive), electron (negative), and neutron (no charge / neutral).

  7. Define atomic number and mass number.

    Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom; mass number is the total number of protons plus neutrons.

  8. What are isotopes?

    Atoms of the same element having the same atomic number (protons) but different mass numbers (different numbers of neutrons).

  9. Who gave the modern periodic law and what is it based on?

    Henry Moseley. The modern periodic law states that the properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic numbers.

  10. What are the rows and columns of the periodic table called?

    Horizontal rows are called periods and vertical columns are called groups.

  11. Define an acid and a base according to the Arrhenius concept.

    An acid produces hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution; a base produces hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solution.

  12. What does the pH scale measure, and what value is neutral?

    The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral; below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic.

  13. What is a neutralization reaction?

    The reaction between an acid and a base to produce a salt and water (Acid + Base gives Salt + Water).

  14. Name the common indicator colours of litmus in acids and bases.

    Acids turn blue litmus red; bases turn red litmus blue.

  15. What gas is usually released when a metal reacts with a dilute acid?

    Hydrogen gas.

  16. What is the difference between metals and non-metals in terms of electrical conductivity and malleability?

    Metals are good conductors of electricity and are malleable and ductile; non-metals are generally poor conductors (insulators) and are brittle (except graphite, which conducts).

  17. What is rusting, and what is its chemical name?

    Rusting is the corrosion of iron in the presence of moisture and oxygen, forming hydrated iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3.xH2O).

  18. Name the most reactive metal and the least reactive (noble) metals from the reactivity series examples.

    Potassium (and sodium) are among the most reactive; gold and platinum are among the least reactive (noble) metals.

  19. What is the chemical name and formula of common table salt and baking soda?

    Table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl); baking soda is sodium bicarbonate / sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3).

  20. What is the chemical name of bleaching powder, and what is washing soda?

    Bleaching powder is calcium oxychloride / calcium hypochlorite (CaOCl2); washing soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na2CO3.10H2O).

  21. What is an alloy? Give the composition of brass and bronze.

    An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of a metal with other metals or non-metals. Brass = copper + zinc; bronze = copper + tin.

  22. Who is regarded as the founder of cell theory, and who first observed cells?

    Schleiden and Schwann proposed the cell theory; Robert Hooke first observed (and named) cells in cork.

  23. What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

    Prokaryotic cells lack a true (membrane-bound) nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

  24. What is the function of the mitochondria, and why is it called so?

    Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration and produce energy (ATP); they are called the powerhouse of the cell.

  25. State the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell.

    A plant cell has a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole; an animal cell lacks a cell wall and chloroplasts and has smaller vacuoles.

  26. Name the five kingdoms of classification (Whittaker's system).

    Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

  27. Name the organs of the human digestive system in order from mouth to anus.

    Mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus (with liver and pancreas as accessory glands).

  28. Name the deficiency diseases caused by lack of Vitamin C and Vitamin D.

    Lack of Vitamin C causes scurvy; lack of Vitamin D causes rickets (in children).

  29. What is the function of red blood cells and white blood cells?

    Red blood cells carry oxygen (via haemoglobin); white blood cells defend the body against infection (immunity).

  30. Write the overall equation of photosynthesis and state where it occurs.

    6CO2 + 6H2O gives, in sunlight and chlorophyll, C6H12O6 + 6O2. It occurs in the chloroplasts of green plant cells.

UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) FAQ

What is in the UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) syllabus?

UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) is split into 4 chapters: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Environment and Applied Science. Together they contain 18 topics and 4 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II)?

4 chapters, containing 18 topics and 4 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Chemistry, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II)?

Yes — a 50-card General Knowledge: General Science (Paper II) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.