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Defence

General Knowledge for CDS

The GK paper has 120 questions in two hours for 100 marks, and every academy uses it. It spans history, geography, polity, economy, school science, environment, defence and current affairs. Steady weekly coverage works better than last-minute cramming.

13 guides·Conducted by Union Public Service CommissionOfficial website

Study in this order

  1. 1A general knowledge plan for CDSThe GK paper has 120 questions across history, geography, polity, economy, science, defence and current affairs. A graduate-level plan with sources, a weekly rotation, a note system and a sample of the question styles UPSC uses. 7 min read
  2. 2Ancient India for CDSFrom Harappa to the Cholas: the sites, texts, rulers, travellers and monuments of ancient India that CDS GK asks about, organised into tables with common confusions and practice MCQs. 7 min read
  3. 3Medieval India for CDSThe Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis, the Bhakti and Sufi saints, the Mughals, the Sikh Gurus and the Marathas, organised as dynasty tables and battle timelines for CDS GK. 7 min read
  4. 4Modern India for CDSHow the East India Company became a ruling power, what each governor-general did, the land revenue systems, the Revolt of 1857, the constitutional Acts and the social reformers, in tables built for CDS GK. 7 min read
  5. 5The freedom struggle for CDSModerates and extremists, Home Rule, the three Gandhian mass movements, Congress sessions, revolutionaries and the INA, in timelines and comparison tables with practice MCQs for CDS GK. 7 min read
  6. 6World history for CDSRenaissance to the end of the Cold War: revolutions, unifications, the two world wars, the UN, NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and decolonisation, as timelines and comparison tables with practice MCQs for CDS. 7 min read
  7. 7Physical geography for CDSThe earth's interior and rocks, rotation and seasons, longitude and time, the atmosphere, pressure belts and winds, landforms, ocean currents and tides, explained with the reasons behind them and practice MCQs for CDS. 8 min read
  8. 8Indian geography for CDSIndia's location and neighbours, physical divisions, Himalayan and peninsular rivers, dams, passes, lakes, climate, soils and crop seasons, in tables built for CDS GK with practice MCQs. 8 min read
  9. 9World geography for CDSContinents and superlatives, grasslands, deserts, rivers and cities, straits and canals, boundary lines and peoples of the world, organised into tables with common confusions and practice MCQs for CDS GK. 7 min read
  10. 10The Constitution for CDSThe making and sources of the Constitution, the Preamble, parts, key articles, schedules, fundamental rights and duties, the amendment procedure and landmark amendments, in tables built for CDS GK with practice MCQs. 9 min read
  11. 11Government and constitutional bodies for CDSThe President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Parliament, the Supreme Court and the constitutional bodies, with the article numbers, elections, removals and confusions CDS GK tests. 8 min read
  12. 12Economic concepts for CDSNational income, inflation, the Budget and deficits, monetary policy and RBI tools, money supply, banking and taxes, explained with worked numbers and the confusions CDS options exploit. 8 min read
  13. 13The Indian economy for CDSFive-Year Plans and NITI Aayog, the agricultural revolutions, the 1991 reforms, financial regulators, flagship schemes and digital public infrastructure, organised for CDS GK with practice MCQs. 7 min read

New General Knowledge guides are added regularly. Back to all CDS guides