Previous year questions · SSC CGL

SSC CGL General Awareness — Previous Year Questions

620 General Awareness questions asked in past SSC CGL papers, split into 62 timed practice sets — every question with its answer and explanation.

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About SSC CGL General Awareness previous year questions

This page collects every General Awareness question that has appeared in past SSC CGL papers on AajExam — 620 questions in total, organised into 62 short, timed practice sets. Each question is shown with its four options, the correct answer, and an explanation of the reasoning, so you can use the page either as a self-test or as a revision reference. Why previous year questions are the highest-value General Awareness preparation you can do for SSC CGL: recruitment boards reuse a stable pool of concepts across cycles. The wording changes, the underlying idea rarely does. Working through a few hundred genuine past General Awareness questions teaches you which sub-topics the paper actually rewards, how the examiner likes to frame distractors, and roughly how long each question type should take — none of which a syllabus document can tell you. How to use this page: attempt questions in blocks of ten without looking at the answers, then review every question you got wrong or guessed. Read the explanation for the concept, not just the answer letter. When a concept keeps catching you out, open the related topic page linked below and drill that single area before returning here. Repeat across the full bank, and track how your accuracy on the second pass compares with your first — a 15-20% improvement is normal and is the clearest sign your preparation is working. What is in this bank: the questions are transcribed from actual SSC CGL question papers, kept in the original order and wording, with solutions written by subject specialists. Sets are free to attempt, work on mobile, and need no login to read. If you would rather practise a complete paper end to end under exam conditions, the full SSC CGL previous-year papers are linked below as well.

General Awareness PYQs asked in SSC CGL

A sample of 30 questions from the full bank of 620. Try each one before opening the solution — the remaining questions are in the timed practice sets below.

Q1.'Bolak-aat' is a ______ from the state of Karnataka.
- A.music form
- B.sculpting form
- C.dance form
- D.painting form
Show answer
Answer: C. dance form
Bolak-aat (or Bolkat) is a traditional folk dance form of Karnataka, performed by Kodava men using sickles and yak fur, depicting Lord Vishnu's dance to kill Bhasmasura.
Q2.Halogens have ______ electrons in their outermost shells.
- A.seven
- B.six
- C.eight
- D.five
Show answer
Answer: A. seven
Halogens (F, Cl, Br, I, At) belong to Group 17 of the periodic table — they have 7 electrons in their outermost shell.
Q3.Who among the following is credited with postulating three laws of planetary motion?
- A.Galileo Galilei
- B.Isaac Newton
- C.Johannes Kepler
- D.Tycho Brahe
Show answer
Answer: A. Galileo Galilei
Johannes Kepler postulated the three laws of planetary motion (1609 and 1619) describing the elliptical orbits of planets around the Sun.
Q4.Who among the following is the author of the book 'Democrats and Dissenters'?
- A.Arun Shourie
- B.Nalini Singh
- C.Gurucharan Das
- D.Ramchandra Guha
Show answer
Answer: D. Ramchandra Guha
Indian historian Ramachandra Guha wrote 'Democrats and Dissenters' — a collection of 16 essays on Indian society, politics and culture.
Q5.Which of the following is a water-soluble vitamin?
- A.Vitamin A
- B.Vitamin K
- C.Vitamin D
- D.Vitamin C
Show answer
Answer: D. Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is water-soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. (Mnemonic: KEDA → fat-soluble.)
Q6.'Thoda' a sport dance belongs to which of the following states?
- A.Sikkim
- B.Haryana
- C.Himachal Pradesh
- D.Andhra Pradesh
Show answer
Answer: C. Himachal Pradesh
Thoda is a martial-art-based folk sport-dance from Himachal Pradesh, performed during Baisakhi festival.
Q7.Which country was the first to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
- A.France
- B.Germany
- C.Canada
- D.USA
Show answer
Answer: A. France
France was the first country to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 1954.
Q8.According to The Economist Intelligence Unit report 'Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2019', which of the following is NOT one of the three cheapest cities in India?
- A.Mumbai
- B.Bengaluru
- C.New Delhi
- D.Chennai
Show answer
Answer: B. Bengaluru
Per the EIU 2019 survey, the three cheapest Indian cities listed were Bengaluru, New Delhi and Chennai. Mumbai was the costliest among them and is the odd one out.
Q9.The Tata Iron and Steel company (TISCO) was established by Dorabji Tata in:
- A.1911
- B.1907
- C.1913
- D.1919
Show answer
Answer: B. 1907
TISCO was founded by Jamsetji and Dorabji Tata on 26 August 1907.
Q10.Who was the first female Director General of Police in Puducherry?
- A.Kiran Bedi
- B.Kanchan Choudhary
- C.Sundari Nanda
- D.Aswathy Tonge
Show answer
Answer: C. Sundari Nanda
S. Sundari Nanda (IPS) became the first female DGP of Puducherry.
Q11.The Annapurna peak belongs to which region of the Himalayas?
- A.Nepal
- B.Garhwal
- C.Bhutan
- D.Kumaon
Show answer
Answer: A. Nepal
Annapurna (8,091 m, 10th highest peak in the world) is located in the Annapurna Range of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal.
Q12.As per WHO, which of the following is NOT an example of disinfection by-products formed at traditional drinking water treatment plants?
- A.Titania
- B.Bromate
- C.Chlorate
- D.Chlorite
Show answer
Answer: A. Titania
Titania (titanium dioxide, TiO₂) is not a disinfection by-product. Bromate, chlorate and chlorite are common DBPs in water treatment.
Q13.The picture that won the World Press Photo of the Year 2021 contest is titled '______'.
- A.The First Embrace
- B.Crying Girl on the Border
- C.Emancipation Memorial Debate
- D.Straight Voice
Show answer
Answer: C. Emancipation Memorial Debate
Mads Nissen's photograph 'The First Embrace' (showing the first hug between a Brazilian woman and her caretaker through a 'hug curtain' during COVID) won World Press Photo of the Year 2021.
Q14.Which of the following states has the lowest female sex ratio according to the 2011 Census?
- A.Uttar Pradesh
- B.Punjab
- C.Sikkim
- D.Haryana
Show answer
Answer: D. Haryana
Per Census 2011: Haryana had the lowest female sex ratio (879 females per 1000 males) among Indian states.
Q15.Who among the following was the first Indian Governor of Reserve Bank of India?
- A.CD Deshmukh
- B.HVR Lengar
- C.PC Bhattacharya
- D.LK Jha
Show answer
Answer: A. CD Deshmukh
Sir Chintaman Dwarakanath Deshmukh (CD Deshmukh) was the first Indian Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, serving from 1943 to 1949.
Q16.Which of these institutions fixes the Repo Rate and the Reverse Repo Rate in India?
- A.Ministry of Finance
- B.State Bank of India
- C.Reserve Bank of India
- D.Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Show answer
Answer: C. Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fixes the Repo Rate and Reverse Repo Rate as part of its monetary policy.
Q17.Which of the following books is NOT written by Salman Rushdie?
- A.Shame
- B.Midnight's Children
- C.An Area of Darkness
- D.The Satanic Verses
Show answer
Answer: C. An Area of Darkness
'An Area of Darkness' was written by V. S. Naipaul (1964). The other three are by Salman Rushdie.
Q18.As of February 2020, who is the President of Sri Lanka?
- A.Chandrika Kumaratunga
- B.Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- C.D.M. Jayaratne
- D.Maithripala Sirisena
Show answer
Answer: B. Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected the 8th President of Sri Lanka in November 2019.
Q19.Name the author who won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2019 for his book — An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India.
- A.Vikram Seth
- B.Romila Thapar
- C.Shashi Tharoor
- D.Ramchandra Guha
Show answer
Answer: C. Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor's 'An Era of Darkness' won the Sahitya Akademi Award for English in 2019.
Q20.Name the physicist who is credited with the discovery of the Neutron. This 1932 discovery led to his winning the Nobel Prize.
- A.Enrico Fermi
- B.J.S. Fleming
- C.James Chadwick
- D.Max Plank
Show answer
Answer: C. James Chadwick
James Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1935.
Q21.As on January 2020, Shri Bhupesh Baghel is the Chief Minister of which of the following states?
- A.Jharkhand
- B.Haryana
- C.Chhattisgarh
- D.Odisha
Show answer
Answer: C. Chhattisgarh
Bhupesh Baghel became the third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in December 2018.
Q22.The Araku Valley, a tourist resort, is located near which of these cities of South India?
- A.Kochi
- B.Madurai
- C.Mangalore
- D.Visakhapatnam
Show answer
Answer: D. Visakhapatnam
Araku Valley is a hill station in Andhra Pradesh, near Visakhapatnam in the Eastern Ghats.
Q23.Sir Thomas Roe came as an official ambassador from King James I of England to which Mughal emperor's court?
- A.Shah Jahan
- B.Akbar
- C.Aurangzeb
- D.Jahangir
Show answer
Answer: D. Jahangir
Sir Thomas Roe served as English ambassador to the court of Mughal emperor Jahangir (1615–1619).
Q24.Which of these words refers to the scientific study of domestic dogs?
- A.Carpology
- B.Cynology
- C.Chrematistics
- D.Craniology
Show answer
Answer: B. Cynology
Cynology is the scientific study of canines/domestic dogs.
Q25.The ruins of the ancient city of Hampi — capital of Vijayanagara — is located in which present day Indian state?
- A.Bihar
- B.Haryana
- C.Telangana
- D.Karnataka
Show answer
Answer: D. Karnataka
Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, is located in Karnataka — a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.
Q26.The World Food Program (WFP) is the food assistance branch of the United Nations. Where is it headquartered?
- A.Rome
- B.Paris
- C.New York
- D.Brussels
Show answer
Answer: A. Rome
The World Food Programme (WFP) is headquartered in Rome, Italy. It won the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
Q27.What is the more common name for solid carbon dioxide?
- A.Potash
- B.Dry Ice
- C.Quick Silver
- D.Epsom
Show answer
Answer: B. Dry Ice
Solid carbon dioxide is commonly known as 'dry ice' — sublimates directly from solid to gas.
Q28.Sultan Qaboos bin Said of ________, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler and with a reputation for quiet diplomacy passed away recently (2020).
- A.Oman
- B.Abu Dhabi
- C.Dubai
- D.Kuwait
Show answer
Answer: A. Oman
Sultan Qaboos bin Said was the ruler of Oman for nearly 50 years (1970–2020). He received the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2019.
Q29.In which year was Sanchi discovered after being abandoned for nearly 600 years?
- A.1814
- B.1816
- C.1818
- D.1820
Show answer
Answer: C. 1818
Sanchi Stupa was rediscovered in 1818 by General Henry Taylor; it had been abandoned for centuries.
Q30.Veteran freedom fighter, social reformer and feminist Savitribai Phule hailed from which of the following states of India?
- A.Rajasthan
- B.Maharashtra
- C.Gujarat
- D.Odisha
Show answer
Answer: B. Maharashtra
Savitribai Phule, India's first female teacher, was born in Naigaon, Satara district of Maharashtra (1831).

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SSC CGL syllabus & pattern Full SSC CGL question papers All General Awareness practice

Frequently Asked Questions

How many SSC CGL General Awareness previous year questions are available?

620 General Awareness questions from past SSC CGL papers are available on AajExam, split into 62 practice sets. New questions are added as fresh papers are released.

Are the answers and explanations free?

Yes. Every question on this page shows its correct answer and explanation free of charge, and you do not need an account to read them. A free account only adds attempt tracking and performance analytics.

Do SSC CGL repeat questions from previous years?

Exact repeats do occur, but the more reliable pattern is conceptual: the same General Awareness sub-topics reappear cycle after cycle with reworded questions. That is why working through past questions raises your score more reliably than reading theory alone.

How should I use these questions in my SSC CGL preparation?

Attempt a set of ten cold, review every wrong and guessed question with its explanation, then drill the weak sub-topic on its topic page before moving on. Revisit the same set after a few days — your second-attempt accuracy is the honest measure of whether the concept stuck.

SSC CGL General Awareness practice sets

Each set is a timed 10-question drill drawn from the same question bank.

About SSC CGL General Awareness previous year questions

General Awareness PYQs asked in SSC CGL

Q1.'Bolak-aat' is a ______ from the state of Karnataka.

Q2.Halogens have ______ electrons in their outermost shells.

Q3.Who among the following is credited with postulating three laws of planetary motion?

Q4.Who among the following is the author of the book 'Democrats and Dissenters'?

Q5.Which of the following is a water-soluble vitamin?

Q6.'Thoda' a sport dance belongs to which of the following states?

Q7.Which country was the first to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

Q8.According to The Economist Intelligence Unit report 'Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2019', which of the following is NOT one of the three cheapest cities in India?

Q9.The Tata Iron and Steel company (TISCO) was established by Dorabji Tata in:

Q10.Who was the first female Director General of Police in Puducherry?

Q11.The Annapurna peak belongs to which region of the Himalayas?

Q12.As per WHO, which of the following is NOT an example of disinfection by-products formed at traditional drinking water treatment plants?

Q13.The picture that won the World Press Photo of the Year 2021 contest is titled '______'.

Q14.Which of the following states has the lowest female sex ratio according to the 2011 Census?

Q15.Who among the following was the first Indian Governor of Reserve Bank of India?

Q16.Which of these institutions fixes the Repo Rate and the Reverse Repo Rate in India?

Q17.Which of the following books is NOT written by Salman Rushdie?

Q18.As of February 2020, who is the President of Sri Lanka?

Q19.Name the author who won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2019 for his book — An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India.

Q20.Name the physicist who is credited with the discovery of the Neutron. This 1932 discovery led to his winning the Nobel Prize.

Q21.As on January 2020, Shri Bhupesh Baghel is the Chief Minister of which of the following states?

Q22.The Araku Valley, a tourist resort, is located near which of these cities of South India?

Q23.Sir Thomas Roe came as an official ambassador from King James I of England to which Mughal emperor's court?

Q24.Which of these words refers to the scientific study of domestic dogs?

Q25.The ruins of the ancient city of Hampi — capital of Vijayanagara — is located in which present day Indian state?

Q26.The World Food Program (WFP) is the food assistance branch of the United Nations. Where is it headquartered?

Q27.What is the more common name for solid carbon dioxide?

Q28.Sultan Qaboos bin Said of ________, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler and with a reputation for quiet diplomacy passed away recently (2020).

Q29.In which year was Sanchi discovered after being abandoned for nearly 600 years?

Q30.Veteran freedom fighter, social reformer and feminist Savitribai Phule hailed from which of the following states of India?

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