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UPSC NDA General Science Syllabus

The General Science syllabus for UPSC NDA in full: 8 chapters, every one listed below, plus 50 General Science flashcards with answers.

8Chapters

50Flashcards

General Science syllabus: all 8 chapters

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

Biology
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Human Body
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Diseases
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Nutrition
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Ecosystem
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Genetics
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Biodiversity
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Environmental Issues
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.

UPSC NDA General Science flashcards — 50 questions with answers

What is the SI unit of force, and how is it defined?
The newton (N). One newton is the force that gives a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s squared (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²).
State Newton's second law of motion as a formula.
Force equals mass times acceleration: F = ma. Equivalently, force is the rate of change of momentum.
What is the acceleration due to gravity (g) at the Earth's surface?
Approximately 9.8 m/s² (often taken as 9.81 m/s²), directed toward the Earth's centre.
Define work in physics and give its SI unit.
Work is the product of force and displacement in the direction of the force (W = F·d·cosθ). Its SI unit is the joule (J).
What is the formula for kinetic energy?
KE = ½mv², where m is mass and v is velocity.
What is the formula for gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface?
PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.
State the law of conservation of energy.
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it only changes from one form to another. The total energy of an isolated system remains constant.
What is the SI unit of power, and how is it defined?
The watt (W). One watt equals one joule of work done per second (1 W = 1 J/s).
State Ohm's law with its formula.
The current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it (at constant temperature): V = IR, where R is resistance.
What is the SI unit of electric current and electric resistance?
Current is measured in amperes (A); resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
What is the speed of light in vacuum?
Approximately 3 × 10⁸ metres per second (299,792,458 m/s).
Differentiate between scalar and vector quantities, with examples.
Scalars have only magnitude (e.g., mass, speed, temperature). Vectors have both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force, displacement).
State Archimedes' principle.
A body wholly or partially immersed in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
What is the formula for pressure, and what is its SI unit?
Pressure = Force / Area (P = F/A). Its SI unit is the pascal (Pa), equal to 1 N/m².
State Newton's law of universal gravitation as a formula.
F = G·m₁·m₂ / r², where G is the gravitational constant, m₁ and m₂ are the masses, and r is the distance between their centres.
What are the three primary states of matter and the process names for their transitions?
Solid, liquid, gas. Solid→liquid: melting; liquid→gas: vaporization; gas→liquid: condensation; liquid→solid: freezing; solid→gas: sublimation.
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
Heat is the total thermal energy transferred between bodies (measured in joules). Temperature is the average kinetic energy of particles (measured in kelvin/celsius).
Name the three modes of heat transfer.
Conduction (through direct contact), convection (through fluid movement), and radiation (through electromagnetic waves, no medium needed).
What is the boiling point and freezing point of water at standard atmospheric pressure (in Celsius)?
Boiling point: 100°C; freezing point: 0°C.
What is the chemical formula of water, and what bond holds it together?
H₂O. It contains polar covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen atoms, with hydrogen bonding between molecules.

Show the other 30 General Science flashcards

What is the atomic number and what does it represent?
The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. It defines the element and equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom.
Define an isotope.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same number of protons (atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons (different mass numbers).
What is the pH scale range, and what do acidic, neutral, and basic values correspond to?
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Below 7 is acidic, exactly 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic (alkaline).
Distinguish between physical and chemical changes with examples.
A physical change alters form but not composition and is usually reversible (e.g., melting ice). A chemical change forms new substances and is usually irreversible (e.g., burning wood).
What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, and its percentage?
Nitrogen, making up about 78% of the atmosphere by volume. Oxygen is about 21%.
Name the gas responsible for the greenhouse effect that humans exhale.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
What is an acid and a base according to the Arrhenius definition?
An acid releases hydrogen ions (H⁺) in aqueous solution; a base releases hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in aqueous solution.
What is the chemical name and formula of common table salt?
Sodium chloride, NaCl.
What is the difference between an element, a compound, and a mixture?
An element is a pure substance of one type of atom; a compound is two or more elements chemically bonded in fixed ratio; a mixture is two or more substances physically combined in any ratio.
What is the valency of carbon, and why is it important?
Carbon has a valency of 4, allowing it to form four covalent bonds. This enables the vast diversity of organic compounds.
What is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms?
The cell.
What is the powerhouse of the cell, and why?
The mitochondrion, because it produces ATP (energy) through cellular respiration.
State the word equation for photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide + Water --(sunlight, chlorophyll)--> Glucose + Oxygen. (6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂).
What pigment is responsible for photosynthesis and the green colour of plants?
Chlorophyll.
What is the basic difference between a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell?
Prokaryotic cells lack a true membrane-bound nucleus and organelles (e.g., bacteria); eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (e.g., plants, animals).
Name the four blood groups in the ABO system and the universal donor.
A, B, AB, and O. O (specifically O-negative) is the universal donor; AB is the universal recipient.
Which part of the human body produces insulin, and what does insulin regulate?
The pancreas produces insulin, which regulates blood glucose (sugar) levels.
What is the molecule that carries genetic information, and what is its full form?
DNA — Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
Name the disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C and vitamin D.
Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy; vitamin D deficiency causes rickets (in children).
What is the normal human body temperature?
Approximately 37°C (98.6°F).
How many chromosomes does a normal human cell contain?
46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs.
What is the function of red blood cells?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carbon dioxide back, using the protein haemoglobin.
Which gas do plants release during the day and absorb during photosynthesis?
Plants release oxygen (O₂) and absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) during photosynthesis.
What is Newton's first law of motion?
An object remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force. (Law of inertia.)
What is the difference between mass and weight?
Mass is the amount of matter in a body (constant, measured in kg). Weight is the gravitational force on that mass (varies with g, measured in newtons; W = mg).
Name the seven colours of the visible spectrum (VIBGYOR) and the phenomenon that produces them.
Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red. They are produced by dispersion of white light (e.g., through a prism or in a rainbow).
What is the unit of frequency, and what does it measure?
The hertz (Hz). It measures the number of cycles or oscillations per second.
What is electromagnetic induction?
The generation of an electromotive force (voltage) in a conductor due to a changing magnetic field, as described by Faraday's law. It is the principle behind generators.
What are the three subatomic particles of an atom, their charges, and locations?
Protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral) are in the nucleus; electrons (negative) orbit the nucleus in shells.
What is the difference between conductors and insulators, with examples?
Conductors allow electric current to flow easily due to free electrons (e.g., copper, silver). Insulators resist the flow of current (e.g., rubber, glass, wood).

UPSC NDA General Science FAQ

What is in the UPSC NDA General Science syllabus?

UPSC NDA General Science is split into 8 chapters: Biology, Human Body, Diseases, Nutrition, Ecosystem, Genetics, Biodiversity and Environmental Issues.

How many chapters are in UPSC NDA General Science?

8 chapters.

Are there flashcards for UPSC NDA General Science?

Yes — a 50-card General Science 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.