Static GK Notes for Competitive Exams
Complete Static General Knowledge notes in simple English for SSC, Railway, UPSC, Banking, Defence, Police and other government examinations.
Static GK Notes: These concise and exam-oriented notes cover important facts about India and the world, including geography, history, polity, culture, awards, sports, science, books, organisations and other frequently asked topics. Use them for quick learning, revision and MCQ practice.
1. National Symbols of India
| National Symbol | Details |
|---|---|
| National Flag | Tricolour with the Ashoka Chakra |
| National Emblem | Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath |
| National Anthem | Jana Gana Mana |
| National Song | Vande Mataram |
| National Animal | Bengal Tiger |
| National Bird | Indian Peacock |
| National Flower | Lotus |
| National Tree | Indian Banyan |
| National Fruit | Mango |
| National Aquatic Animal | Ganges River Dolphin |
| National River | Ganga |
| National Heritage Animal | Indian Elephant |
Remember: The Ashoka Chakra on the Indian flag has 24 spokes.
2. Important National and International Days
| Date | Day |
|---|---|
| 12 January | National Youth Day |
| 26 January | Republic Day of India |
| 28 February | National Science Day |
| 8 March | International Women’s Day |
| 22 March | World Water Day |
| 7 April | World Health Day |
| 22 April | Earth Day |
| 1 May | International Workers’ Day |
| 5 June | World Environment Day |
| 21 June | International Day of Yoga |
| 15 August | Independence Day of India |
| 29 August | National Sports Day in India |
| 5 September | Teachers’ Day in India |
| 2 October | Gandhi Jayanti |
| 24 October | United Nations Day |
| 26 November | Constitution Day of India |
| 10 December | Human Rights Day |
3. Countries, Capitals and Currencies
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| India | New Delhi | Indian Rupee |
| United States | Washington, D.C. | US Dollar |
| United Kingdom | London | Pound Sterling |
| Japan | Tokyo | Yen |
| China | Beijing | Renminbi/Yuan |
| Russia | Moscow | Russian Ruble |
| France | Paris | Euro |
| Germany | Berlin | Euro |
| Australia | Canberra | Australian Dollar |
| Canada | Ottawa | Canadian Dollar |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Taka |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Nepalese Rupee |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | Ngultrum |
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw | Kyat |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | UAE Dirham |
Remember: The currency of Japan is the yen, while the currency of China is officially the renminbi.
4. Indian States and Capitals
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dispur |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
| Haryana | Chandigarh |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| Punjab | Chandigarh |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
Note: India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Some states have seasonal or additional administrative capitals, so candidates should check official updates when preparing for a particular examination.
5. Important Rivers, Dams and Projects
| River | Important Dam or Project |
|---|---|
| Bhakra River system | Bhakra Nangal Project on the Sutlej |
| Narmada | Sardar Sarovar Project |
| Krishna | Nagarjuna Sagar Project |
| Mahanadi | Hirakud Dam |
| Teesta | Teesta projects |
| Damodar | Damodar Valley Project |
| Ganga | Various multipurpose and irrigation projects |
| Rihand | Rihand Dam |
- The Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha.
- The Sardar Sarovar Project is associated with the Narmada River.
- The Bhakra Nangal Project is associated with the Sutlej River.
- The Damodar Valley Project is one of India’s major multipurpose river-valley projects.
6. Mountains, Lakes and Waterfalls
| Feature | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Highest mountain peak in the world | Mount Everest |
| Highest peak in India-controlled territory commonly cited in exams | Kangchenjunga |
| Largest freshwater lake in India by surface area | Wular Lake |
| Largest brackish water lagoon in India | Chilika Lake |
| Highest waterfall in India commonly cited | Kunchikal Falls |
| Largest saltwater lake in India commonly cited | Sambhar Lake |
- The Himalayas are young fold mountains.
- The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are important mountain systems of peninsular India.
- Dal Lake is located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
- Loktak Lake is located in Manipur and is known for its floating phumdis.
- Jog Falls is located in Karnataka.
7. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
| Protected Area | State/Region | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett National Park | Uttarakhand | Tiger habitat |
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros |
| Gir National Park | Gujarat | Asiatic lion |
| Kanha National Park | Madhya Pradesh | Tiger habitat and biodiversity |
| Bandipur National Park | Karnataka | Tiger and elephant habitat |
| Ranthambore National Park | Rajasthan | Tigers |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | Mangrove ecosystem and tigers |
| Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | Birdlife |
| Periyar National Park | Kerala | Elephants and other wildlife |
| Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | Mountain biodiversity |
Remember: Kaziranga is especially known for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, while Gir is associated with the Asiatic lion.
8. Indian Art and Culture
- Ajanta Caves: Famous for ancient Buddhist paintings and sculptures in Maharashtra.
- Ellora Caves: Known for Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut monuments in Maharashtra.
- Konark Sun Temple: Located in Odisha and dedicated to the Sun God.
- Khajuraho Temples: Located in Madhya Pradesh and known for their architectural sculptures.
- Sanchi Stupa: Important Buddhist monument in Madhya Pradesh.
- Nalanda: Ancient centre of learning in present-day Bihar.
- Madhubani painting: Traditional art form associated with Bihar.
- Warli painting: Traditional tribal art associated with Maharashtra.
- Pattachitra: Traditional painting style associated especially with Odisha.
- Kalamkari: Textile and painting tradition associated with parts of southern India.
9. Dance Forms and Music
| Dance or Music Form | Associated Region |
|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| Kathak | North India |
| Kathakali | Kerala |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| Odissi | Odisha |
| Manipuri | Manipur |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| Sattriya | Assam |
| Bhangra | Punjab |
| Garba | Gujarat |
| Ghoomar | Rajasthan |
| Lavani | Maharashtra |
| Yakshagana | Karnataka |
| Raut Nacha | Chhattisgarh |
Classical music traditions: Hindustani music is mainly associated with northern India, while Carnatic music is mainly associated with southern India.
10. Books and Authors
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Discovery of India | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Wings of Fire | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari |
| My Experiments with Truth | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Gitanjali | Rabindranath Tagore |
| Anandamath | Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Godan | Munshi Premchand |
| India Wins Freedom | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad |
| Arthashastra | Kautilya, traditionally attributed |
| Rajatarangini | Kalhana |
| Train to Pakistan | Khushwant Singh |
11. Awards and Honours
- Bharat Ratna: India’s highest civilian award.
- Padma Vibhushan: Second-highest civilian award in India.
- Padma Bhushan: Third-highest civilian award in India.
- Padma Shri: Fourth-highest civilian award in India.
- Param Vir Chakra: India’s highest wartime gallantry award.
- Ashoka Chakra: India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: India’s highest award in the field of cinema.
- Jnanpith Award: Major Indian literary award.
- Arjuna Award: Award recognising outstanding achievement in sports.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: India’s highest sporting honour.
- Nobel Prize: International award associated with achievements in several fields, including physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economic sciences.
12. Sports and Games
| Sport | Important Term or Fact |
|---|---|
| Cricket | Pitch, wicket, innings |
| Football | FIFA is the international governing body |
| Hockey | Played with sticks and a ball |
| Badminton | Played with a shuttlecock |
| Tennis | Grand Slam tournaments are major events |
| Boxing | Contested in a ring |
| Golf | Players aim to complete holes in as few strokes as possible |
| Chess | Played on a board of 64 squares |
| Basketball | Players attempt to score through a hoop |
| Volleyball | Played over a net between two teams |
- The Olympic Games are held in summer and winter editions.
- The Asian Games are a major multi-sport event for athletes from Asia.
- Wimbledon is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
- The Thomas Cup is associated with men’s team badminton.
- The Uber Cup is associated with women’s team badminton.
- The Davis Cup is associated with men’s team tennis.
13. Important Organisations and Headquarters
| Organisation | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| United Nations | New York, United States |
| World Health Organization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UNESCO | Paris, France |
| International Monetary Fund | Washington, D.C., United States |
| World Bank | Washington, D.C., United States |
| World Trade Organization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Labour Organization | Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Court of Justice | The Hague, Netherlands |
| International Olympic Committee | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| SAARC | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| ASEAN | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| ISRO | Bengaluru, India |
| DRDO | New Delhi, India |
14. Scientific Instruments and Discoveries
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Barometer | Measures atmospheric pressure |
| Thermometer | Measures temperature |
| Hygrometer | Measures humidity |
| Anemometer | Measures wind speed |
| Seismograph | Records ground motion associated with earthquakes |
| Altimeter | Measures altitude |
| Hydrometer | Measures the relative density of liquids |
| Odometer | Measures distance travelled by a vehicle |
| Speedometer | Measures the speed of a vehicle |
| Stethoscope | Helps listen to internal body sounds |
Important Discoveries
Gravity and laws of motion – associated with Isaac Newton.
Penicillin – discovered by Alexander Fleming.
Smallpox vaccination – pioneered by Edward Jenner.
Radioactivity – discovered by Henri Becquerel.
Electron – discovered by J. J. Thomson.
Raman effect – discovered by C. V. Raman.
15. First in India
| Achievement | Name |
|---|---|
| First President of India | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| First Prime Minister of India | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| First Indian Governor-General of independent India | C. Rajagopalachari |
| First woman Prime Minister of India | Indira Gandhi |
| First woman President of India | Pratibha Patil |
| First Indian in space | Rakesh Sharma |
| First Indian Nobel laureate | Rabindranath Tagore |
| First Indian individual Olympic gold medallist | Abhinav Bindra |
| First Indian woman to climb Mount Everest | Bachendri Pal |
| First woman IPS officer of India | Kiran Bedi |
16. Important World Facts
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Largest continent | Asia |
| Smallest continent | Australia |
| Largest ocean | Pacific Ocean |
| Smallest ocean | Arctic Ocean |
| Largest hot desert | Sahara Desert |
| Highest mountain | Mount Everest |
| Deepest oceanic trench | Mariana Trench |
| Largest island commonly cited | Greenland |
| Largest rainforest | Amazon Rainforest |
| Longest continental mountain range | Andes |
Remember: Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on Earth.
17. Important Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| ISRO | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| DRDO | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| RBI | Reserve Bank of India |
| SEBI | Securities and Exchange Board of India |
| UPSC | Union Public Service Commission |
| SSC | Staff Selection Commission |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product |
| GST | Goods and Services Tax |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children’s Fund |
| FIFA | Fédération Internationale de Football Association |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| ATM | Automated Teller Machine |
| PIN | Personal Identification Number |
18. Quick Revision Facts
National animal of IndiaBengal Tiger
National bird of IndiaIndian Peacock
National flowerLotus
National aquatic animalGanges River Dolphin
Capital of JapanTokyo
Currency of BangladeshTaka
Asiatic lion habitatGir
One-horned rhinocerosKaziranga
Instrument for pressureBarometer
Instrument for humidityHygrometer
Highest civilian award in IndiaBharat Ratna
First Indian in spaceRakesh Sharma
How to Prepare Static GK for Competitive Exams
- Prepare topic-wise notes on national symbols, geography, culture, awards and organisations.
- Memorise important capitals, currencies, headquarters, books, authors and abbreviations.
- Use tables and short fact lists for quick daily revision.
- Revise important days, national parks, rivers, dams and sports tournaments regularly.
- Solve topic-wise Static GK MCQs to improve speed and accuracy.
Practice Static GK MCQs
Test your preparation with important Static General Knowledge multiple-choice questions designed for competitive examinations.
Practice Static GK MCQsFrequently Asked Questions
What is Static GK?
Static GK refers to relatively stable general knowledge facts about history, geography, culture, national symbols, awards, organisations, sports and other subjects.
Which Static GK topics are important for SSC and Railway exams?
National symbols, countries and capitals, Indian geography, art and culture, awards, books and authors, important days, sports, organisations and scientific instruments are useful areas for preparation.
How is Static GK different from Current Affairs?
Static GK focuses on relatively stable facts, while Current Affairs covers recent events, developments, appointments, schemes and news.
How can I revise Static GK quickly?
Use short tables, flashcards, fact lists and topic-wise MCQs. Revise a small set of facts every day.
Should I update Static GK notes?
Yes. Some facts, such as office-holders, administrative details, organisational leadership and official names, may change. Check official sources for exam-specific updates.
Conclusion
These Static GK notes provide a concise foundation for competitive exam preparation. Revise important facts regularly, organise information topic-wise and practise MCQs consistently. A steady revision routine can help improve both accuracy and confidence.
Keep learning with Preptara — Learning Simplified.