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UPSC CDS General Knowledge Flashcards
51 question-and-answer cards covering General Knowledge as it is examined in UPSC CDS. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the General Knowledge deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
In which sport is the Thomas Cup contested, and at what level?
International men's team badminton; India won it for the first time in 2022.
How frequently is the Commonwealth Games held and which body governs it?
Every four years, governed by the Commonwealth Games Federation, among Commonwealth nations.
Which Indian city will host an Olympic-related milestone as the country bids, and which body selects Olympic hosts?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selects Olympic host cities; India has expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Games (Ahmedabad).
Which civilization is known for its planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?
The Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization), c. 2500-1900 BCE, noted for grid town planning and drainage systems.
What are the four Vedas of ancient India?
Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
Who founded Buddhism and Jainism respectively?
Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha; Jainism's 24th and last Tirthankara was Mahavira (Vardhamana).
Which emperor of the Maurya dynasty embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War?
Ashoka the Great (Ashoka Maurya), c. 268-232 BCE.
Who founded the Maurya Empire and who was his chief advisor?
Chandragupta Maurya founded it (c. 321 BCE); his advisor was Chanakya (Kautilya), author of the Arthashastra.
The Gupta period is often called the 'Golden Age' of India for advances in which fields?
Mathematics, astronomy, science, art, and literature; figures include Aryabhata and Kalidasa.
Which ancient Indian mathematician is credited with the concept of zero and the value of pi?
Aryabhata, in his work Aryabhatiya (5th century CE).
What script were most of Ashoka's edicts written in?
Mainly the Brahmi script (with some in Kharosthi, Greek, and Aramaic).
Who founded the Delhi Sultanate's first dynasty, the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty?
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, in 1206 CE.
Which ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?
Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Who founded the Mughal Empire in India and by defeating whom?
Babur, after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
Which Mughal emperor introduced the religion Din-i-Ilahi and the policy of religious tolerance?
Akbar the Great (1556-1605).
Who built the Taj Mahal and in whose memory?
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Who founded the Maratha Empire?
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, crowned in 1674.
Which battle in 1565 led to the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire?
The Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi), fought against a confederation of Deccan Sultanates.
In which year did the Revolt of 1857 (First War of Independence) begin and from where?
1857, beginning at Meerut, sparked by the greased cartridge issue.
When was the Indian National Congress founded and by whom?
1885, founded with the help of A.O. Hume; first president was W.C. Bonnerjee.
What event triggered the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and who ordered the firing?
A peaceful gathering protesting the Rowlatt Act in Amritsar (13 April 1919); General Reginald Dyer ordered the firing.
Which movement did Mahatma Gandhi launch with the Dandi Salt March in 1930?
The Civil Disobedience Movement, defying the British salt tax.
What was the slogan and year of the Quit India Movement?
'Do or Die', launched in 1942 demanding an end to British rule.
On what date did India gain independence and who was its first Prime Minister?
15 August 1947; Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister.
What this deck covers
The General Knowledge deck follows the UPSC CDS General Knowledge syllabus — 2 chapters and 6 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 25.5 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 73 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
General Knowledge flashcards FAQ
How many General Knowledge flashcards are in this UPSC CDS deck?
51 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these UPSC CDS flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 51-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the General Knowledge cards cover?
They follow the UPSC CDS General Knowledge syllabus — 2 chapters and 6 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.