NDA / CDS / AFCAT - MCQ Practice Questions
Practice <strong>NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF</strong> MCQ questions covering Mathematics, English, General Knowledge, General Science, and Current Affairs. Perfect for Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force officer aspirants.
205 questions | 100% Free
Rahul starts from point A and walks 4 km North, then 3 km East to reach point B. What is the shortest distance from A to B?
Understanding:
We need the straight-line (shortest) distance from A to B.
Formula:
By the Pythagorean theorem:
Step 1: Substitute values.
Answer:
The shortest distance from A to B is 5 km.
Quick Tip:
3-4-5 is the most common Pythagorean triple in exam problems. Recognise it instantly to save calculation time.
Find the odd one out:
Major, Colonel, Brigadier, Admiral, General
Understanding:
We need to identify which rank does not belong to the same service branch as the others.
Step 1: Identify the service for each rank.
Step 2: Identify the odd one out.
All ranks except Admiral belong to the Indian Army. Admiral is a Naval rank.
Answer:
Admiral is the odd one out as it belongs to the Indian Navy, not the Army.
Quick Tip:
For NDA/CDS, knowing the rank structures of all three services is directly tested. Army: Lieutenant → Captain → Major → Lt Colonel → Colonel → Brigadier → Major General → Lt General → General.
Which number should replace the question mark?
\[
\begin{array}{|c|c|c|}
\hline
4 & 9 & 16 \\
\hline
25 & 36 & 49 \\
\hline
64 & 81 & ?\\
\hline
\end{array}
\]
Understanding:
We need to find the missing number in the 3×3 matrix.
Step 1: Identify the pattern.
List all the numbers in row order: 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, ?
Step 2: Express each as a perfect square.
Step 3: Find the next term.
The next number in the sequence is 102=100.
Answer:
The missing number is 100.
If the letters of the word MILITARY are arranged alphabetically, which letter will be in the middle (4th position)?
Understanding:
We arrange all letters of MILITARY alphabetically and find the 4th letter.
Step 1: List the letters of MILITARY.
M, I, L, I, T, A, R, Y — 8 letters total.
Step 2: Sort alphabetically.
A, I, I, L, M, R, T, Y
Step 3: Identify the 4th letter.
Position 1=A, 2=I, 3=I, 4=L.
Answer:
The letter at the 4th position after alphabetical arrangement is L.
In a certain code, '253' means 'books are old', '546' means 'man is old' and '378' means 'buy good books'. What is the code for 'are'?
Understanding:
We need to decode the number that represents the word 'are' using the three coded sentences.
Step 1: Compare '253' (books are old) and '546' (man is old).
Common word: 'old'. Common digit: 5. So 5 = old.
Step 2: Compare '253' (books are old) and '378' (buy good books).
Common word: 'books'. Common digit: 3. So 3 = books.
Step 3: Find the code for 'are' in '253'.
We know 5 = old and 3 = books. The remaining digit in '253' is 2.
Therefore 2 = are.
Answer:
The code for 'are' is 2.
Quick Tip:
Always find common words between two sentences first — they reveal the shared digit-word mapping and unlock the rest systematically.
Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the election of the President of India?
Understanding:
We need to identify the correct Article of the Indian Constitution that specifically deals with the election of the President.
Step 1: Key Articles related to the President
Article 52 — Establishes that there shall be a President of India.
Article 54 — Deals with the election of the President.
Article 55 — Manner of election of the President.
Article 58 — Qualifications for election as President.
Article 61 — Procedure for impeachment of the President.
Step 2: Identify the correct Article
The question asks specifically about the 'election' of the President. Article 54 states that the President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
Answer:
Article 54 of the Indian Constitution deals with the election of the President of India.
Quick Tip:
A common confusion is between Article 54 (election) and Article 55 (manner of election). Article 54 defines who elects, while Article 55 defines how the votes are weighted.
The 'Operation Vijay' conducted in 1999 was related to which of the following conflicts?
Understanding:
We need to identify which conflict the Indian military operation named 'Operation Vijay' in 1999 was associated with.
Step 1: Historical Context
In 1999, Pakistani soldiers and militants infiltrated positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. This led to an armed conflict between India and Pakistan.
Step 2: The Operation
The Indian Army launched 'Operation Vijay' in May 1999 to evict the intruders from the occupied peaks. The operation was successfully concluded on 26 July 1999, which is now celebrated as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' every year.
Step 3: Eliminating other options
The Siachen conflict is ongoing and associated with 'Operation Meghdoot' (1984). The Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) involved 'Operation Trident' and 'Operation Cactus Lily'. The Sri Lanka peacekeeping operation was 'Operation Pawan' (1987).
Answer:
Operation Vijay (1999) was the Indian military operation conducted during the Kargil War.
Quick Tip:
26 July is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas each year to commemorate India's victory in Operation Vijay.
Which of the following straits connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden?
Understanding:
We need to identify the strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Step 1: Identifying each strait
Strait of Hormuz — connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
Strait of Malacca — connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) to the South China Sea.
Bab-el-Mandeb — connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Strait of Gibraltar — connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
Step 2: Matching the question
The Bab-el-Mandeb strait lies between Yemen (on the Arabian Peninsula) and Djibouti/Eritrea (in the Horn of Africa). It is a critical chokepoint for global shipping, especially for oil tankers moving between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Answer:
Bab-el-Mandeb is the strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Quick Tip:
'Bab-el-Mandeb' means 'Gate of Tears' in Arabic — a name worth remembering for geography questions in NDA/CDS exams.
Who was the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India?
Understanding:
We need to identify the first person to hold the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India.
Step 1: Background of the CDS post
The position of Chief of Defence Staff was created by the Government of India on 24 December 2019 as a recommendation from the Kargil Review Committee. The CDS serves as the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister.
Step 2: First appointee
General Bipin Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on 1 January 2020. He held the position until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on 8 December 2021.
Step 3: Eliminating others
Admiral Sunil Lanba, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, and Air Chief Marshal B. S. Dhanoa were former chiefs of the Navy, Army, and Air Force respectively, but none of them held the CDS position.
Answer:
General Bipin Rawat was the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India.
Quick Tip:
General Anil Chauhan was appointed as the second CDS of India in September 2022, following General Bipin Rawat's demise.
The Durand Line forms the boundary between which two countries?
Understanding:
We need to identify the two countries that are separated by the Durand Line.
Step 1: Historical context
The Durand Line was established in 1893 after an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand (a British Indian civil servant) and Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan. It was created to demarcate the border between British India and the Afghan Emirate.
Step 2: Present-day relevance
After the partition of 1947, Pakistan inherited the border that was formerly between British India and Afghanistan. Therefore, today the Durand Line forms the disputed international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Step 3: Eliminating others
The India-Pakistan border is the Radcliffe Line. There is no direct border between India and Afghanistan in the current geopolitical context (Pakistan lies between them). The Afghanistan-Iran border is a separate internationally recognised boundary.
Answer:
The Durand Line forms the boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Quick Tip:
Afghanistan does not officially recognise the Durand Line as a legitimate international border — this is a key geopolitical tension point frequently asked in defence exams.
INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in which year?
Understanding:
We need to identify the year in which INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, was officially commissioned.
Step 1: Background of INS Vikrant
INS Vikrant (IAC-1) was built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kerala. It is named after the original INS Vikrant, which played a vital role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The new INS Vikrant is the largest warship ever built in India.
Step 2: Commissioning date
INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 2 September 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Step 3: Eliminating other years
2019 and 2020 are too early — the ship was still under construction. 2023 is after the actual commissioning date.
Answer:
INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the year 2022.
Quick Tip:
INS Vikrant's commissioning made India one of a select group of nations capable of designing and building its own aircraft carrier.
Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'?
Understanding:
We need to identify which river is historically referred to as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'.
Step 1: Reasoning
The Kosi river, originating in the Himalayas and flowing through Nepal and Bihar before joining the Ganga, is notorious for its frequent and devastating floods. It changes its course dramatically — having shifted over 120 km westward over the last 250 years — causing immense destruction and displacement in Bihar.
Step 2: Why 'Sorrow of Bihar'
Due to its repeated, severe flooding and unpredictable course changes, the Kosi river has historically caused massive loss of life and property in Bihar, earning it the sobriquet 'Sorrow of Bihar'.
Step 3: Eliminating others
The Ganga is the main river but is not called the sorrow of Bihar. The Damodar river is called the 'Sorrow of Bengal'. The Gandak and Sone are rivers in Bihar but are not associated with this particular term.
Answer:
The Kosi river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'.
Quick Tip:
Similarly, the Damodar river is called the 'Sorrow of Bengal', and the Mahanadi is sometimes called the 'Sorrow of Odisha'. These nicknames are frequently tested in GK sections.
Which of the following is the highest gallantry award given to civilians in India?
Understanding:
We need to identify the highest gallantry award for civilians in India, distinguishing it from civilian honour awards and military gallantry awards.
Step 1: Classify each option
Param Vir Chakra — the highest military gallantry award in India, given for acts of valour in the presence of the enemy (wartime).
Padma Vibhushan — the second highest civilian honour, recognising distinguished service of exceptional order.
Bharat Ratna — the highest civilian honour in India, awarded for exceptional service or performance at the highest level.
Ashoka Chakra — the highest peacetime gallantry award in India, awarded to both civilians and military personnel for valour, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
Step 2: Identify the correct answer
The question asks for the highest gallantry award for civilians. Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are civilian honours (not gallantry awards). Param Vir Chakra is a military wartime gallantry award. The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award and can be awarded to civilians.
Answer:
The Ashoka Chakra is the highest gallantry award given to civilians in India.
Quick Tip:
Ashoka Chakra is the civilian equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. It can be awarded posthumously and is presented on Republic Day each year.
The 'Treaty of Versailles' (1919) was signed at the end of which war?
Understanding:
We need to identify the war that concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
Step 1: Background
World War I lasted from 1914 to 1918, ending with the Armistice of 11 November 1918. The formal peace settlement was negotiated at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
Step 2: The Treaty
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in France. It was primarily between the Allied Powers and Germany. The treaty held Germany responsible for the war (the 'War Guilt Clause' — Article 231) and imposed severe reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions on Germany.
Step 3: Eliminating others
World War II ended with the Japanese Instrument of Surrender (1945). The Crimean War ended with the Treaty of Paris (1856). The Napoleonic Wars ended with the Congress of Vienna (1815).
Answer:
The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was signed at the end of World War I.
Quick Tip:
The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles are widely considered one of the root causes of World War II, as they created deep resentment in Germany, facilitating the rise of Adolf Hitler.
Which planet in our solar system has the largest number of known natural satellites (moons)?
Understanding:
We need to identify which planet in the solar system currently has the highest confirmed count of natural satellites.
Step 1: Historical context
For a long time, Jupiter was believed to have the most moons. However, advancements in telescope technology led to the discovery of many new small moons around Saturn.
Step 2: Current status
As of 2023, Saturn holds the record with 146 confirmed natural satellites — surpassing Jupiter's count of 95 confirmed moons. The additional moons discovered around Saturn are mostly small, irregular objects captured in the outer solar system.
Step 3: Eliminating others
Uranus has 28 known moons and Neptune has 16, both significantly fewer than Saturn and Jupiter.
Answer:
Saturn currently has the largest number of known natural satellites in our solar system.
Quick Tip:
This is a fact that has changed in recent years — Jupiter held this record for decades. Always check for updated figures in current affairs before the exam.
The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the constitution of which country?
Understanding:
We need to identify the country from whose constitution India borrowed the concept of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
Step 1: Origins of DPSP
The Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in Part IV (Articles 36–51) of the Indian Constitution. They are non-justiciable guidelines meant to guide the state in policy-making for the welfare of citizens.
Step 2: Source of the concept
The concept of DPSP was borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann, 1937), which in turn was influenced by the Spanish Constitution of 1931. Ireland incorporated the concept of social and economic rights as directive principles rather than enforceable rights.
Step 3: Eliminating others
From the United Kingdom, India borrowed the Parliamentary system and the concept of rule of law. From the USA, India borrowed Fundamental Rights and judicial review. From Canada, India borrowed the federal structure with a strong Centre.
Answer:
The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy was borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland.
Quick Tip:
A common mnemonic: 'DPSP — D is from Dublin (Ireland)'. This helps quickly recall the source during exams.
Which among the following is the world's largest desert by area?
Understanding:
We need to identify the world's largest desert by area, keeping in mind the scientific definition of a desert.
Step 1: Definition of a desert
A desert is defined as a region that receives very little precipitation — generally less than 250 mm per year. By this definition, cold polar regions also qualify as deserts.
Step 2: Comparing areas
The Antarctic Desert covers approximately 14.2 million sq km, making it the largest desert on Earth.
The Sahara Desert covers approximately 9.2 million sq km — it is the largest hot desert.
The Arabian Desert covers about 2.3 million sq km.
The Gobi Desert covers about 1.3 million sq km.
Step 3: Conclusion
While the Sahara is the most commonly known desert, the Antarctic Desert is the largest by total area, as Antarctica receives very little precipitation annually.
Answer:
The Antarctic Desert is the world's largest desert by area.
Quick Tip:
Exam questions sometimes specify 'largest hot desert' (answer: Sahara) versus 'largest desert' (answer: Antarctic). Read the question carefully.
Which Indian freedom fighter was also known as 'Lok Manya'?
Understanding:
We need to identify the Indian freedom fighter who was popularly known by the title 'Lok Manya'.
Step 1: Meaning of 'Lok Manya'
'Lok Manya' is a Sanskrit/Marathi title meaning 'accepted by the people' or 'respected by the people'. It signifies someone who commands great public respect and authority.
Step 2: The freedom fighter
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920), a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement, was widely addressed as 'Lok Manya Tilak'. He popularised the Ganesh Chaturthi festival as a community gathering and started the Shivaji Festival to promote nationalism. He is credited with the famous declaration: 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.'
Step 3: Eliminating others
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was known as the 'Philosopher of Indian Nationalism'. Lala Lajpat Rai was known as 'Punjab Kesari' (Lion of Punjab). Bipin Chandra Pal was known as 'Father of Revolutionary Thoughts'. The trio of Lal, Bal, Pal is famous in Indian history.
Answer:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was known as 'Lok Manya'.
Quick Tip:
Remember the famous 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio — Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal — who represented the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress.
The AGNI-V missile of India is classified as which type of ballistic missile?
Understanding:
We need to classify India's Agni-V missile according to international ballistic missile range classifications.
Step 1: Ballistic missile range classifications
SRBM (Short Range) — range up to 1,000 km.
MRBM (Medium Range) — range from 1,000 to 3,000 km.
IRBM (Intermediate Range) — range from 3,000 to 5,500 km.
ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) — range greater than 5,500 km.
Step 2: Agni-V specifications
Agni-V is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has a strike range of over 5,000–5,500 km (some reports suggest up to 8,000 km with modifications), placing it in the ICBM category by international standards.
Step 3: Strategic significance
Agni-V gives India the capability to strike targets deep within China and parts of Europe. India officially describes it as having a range of over 5,000 km. It was first tested in April 2012.
Answer:
The Agni-V missile is classified as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
Quick Tip:
Agni-V is India's most capable land-based nuclear-capable ballistic missile. It is road-mobile and can be launched from a canister, enhancing its survivability.
Which Fundamental Right was described by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as the 'Heart and Soul' of the Indian Constitution?
Understanding:
We need to identify which Fundamental Right was described as the 'Heart and Soul' of the Indian Constitution by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Step 1: Dr. Ambedkar's statement
During the Constituent Assembly debates, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar described Article 32 — the Right to Constitutional Remedies — as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution. He considered this right to be the most important because without it, all other Fundamental Rights would be meaningless.
Step 2: What Article 32 provides
Article 32 grants every citizen the right to move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. It empowers the Supreme Court to issue writs — Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto.
Step 3: Eliminating others
Article 14 (equality), Article 19 (freedoms), and Article 23 (exploitation) are all important Fundamental Rights, but none of them was specifically described by Ambedkar with this particular phrase.
Answer:
The Right to Constitutional Remedies under Article 32 was described as the 'Heart and Soul' of the Indian Constitution by Dr. Ambedkar.
Quick Tip:
Article 32 itself is a Fundamental Right and cannot be suspended except during a National Emergency. It is the guardian of all other Fundamental Rights.