STATIC GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (GK) –
COMPREHENSIVE NOTES
(Exam‑oriented | SSC, Banking, UPSC (Prelims basics), State PSC, Railways)
1. INTRODUCTION TO STATIC GK
Static General Knowledge refers to factual information that remains largely unchanged over time. Unlike
current affairs, static GK includes topics such as history, geography, polity, economics (basic concepts),
science fundamentals, culture, art, books, awards, important days, and national symbols.
Static GK forms a major portion of competitive examinations in India. Strong command over static GK helps
in: - Answering direct factual questions - Eliminating options in MCQs - Scoring quickly with accuracy
2. INDIAN HISTORY
2.1 PREHISTORIC PERIOD
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
• Time period: Up to 10,000 BC
• Tools: Crude stone tools (hand axes, cleavers)
• Lifestyle: Hunting and gathering
• Important sites: Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Hunsgi (Karnataka)
Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
• Time period: 10,000 BC – 8,000 BC
• Tools: Microliths (small stone tools)
• Lifestyle: Domestication of animals begins
• Important sites: Bagor (Rajasthan), Adamgarh (MP)
Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
• Time period: 8,000 BC onwards
• Features:
• Agriculture began
• Polished stone tools
• Pottery and weaving
• Important sites: Mehrgarh (Pakistan), Burzahom (Kashmir)
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2.2 INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION (Harappan Civilization)
• Time period: 2500 BC – 1750 BC
• Urban civilization
• Planned cities with grid system
• Advanced drainage system
• Main crops: Wheat, barley
• Script: Pictographic (not deciphered)
Important Cities and Sites
• Harappa – Punjab (Pakistan)
• Mohenjo‑daro – Sindh (Pakistan)
• Dholavira – Gujarat (unique water management)
• Lothal – Gujarat (dockyard)
• Kalibangan – Rajasthan (ploughed field)
Economy
• Agriculture, trade, and crafts
• Trade with Mesopotamia
• Use of seals
2.3 VEDIC PERIOD
Early Vedic Period (1500 BC – 1000 BC)
• Rigveda composed
• Pastoral economy
• Society based on tribes
• Political unit: Jana
Later Vedic Period (1000 BC – 600 BC)
• Agriculture dominant
• Varna system became rigid
• Emergence of Mahajanapadas
• Assemblies: Sabha and Samiti
2.4 MAURYAN EMPIRE
• Founder: Chandragupta Maurya
• Capital: Pataliputra
• Megasthenes visited during Chandragupta’s reign
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Ashoka the Great
• Adopted Buddhism after Kalinga War
• Dhamma policy
• Rock and pillar edicts
• Lion Capital of Ashoka adopted as National Emblem of India
2.5 GUPTA PERIOD (Golden Age)
• Founder: Sri Gupta
• Famous rulers: Samudragupta, Chandragupta II
• Achievements:
• Zero and decimal system
• Aryabhata (astronomy)
• Kalidasa (literature)
2.6 MEDIEVAL INDIA
Delhi Sultanate
• Five dynasties:
• Slave Dynasty
• Khalji Dynasty
• Tughlaq Dynasty
• Sayyid Dynasty
• Lodi Dynasty
• Qutub Minar built by Qutubuddin Aibak
Mughal Empire
• Founder: Babur (1526, Battle of Panipat)
• Akbar:
• Mansabdari system
• Religious tolerance
• Shah Jahan:
• Taj Mahal
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3. INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
3.1 PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
The Himalayas
• Young fold mountains
• Three ranges:
• Himadri (Greater Himalaya)
• Himachal (Lesser Himalaya)
• Shiwalik
Northern Plains
• Formed by Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra rivers
• Fertile alluvial soil
Peninsular Plateau
• Oldest landmass
• Rich in minerals
3.2 RIVERS OF INDIA
Himalayan Rivers
• Perennial rivers
• Examples: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra
Peninsular Rivers
• Seasonal rivers
• Examples: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
Important Facts
• Longest river in India: Ganga
• Largest river basin: Ganga basin
3.3 CLIMATE OF INDIA
• Tropical monsoon climate
• Seasons:
• Summer
• Southwest monsoon
• Retreating monsoon
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• Winter
3.4 SOILS OF INDIA
• Alluvial soil – Northern plains
• Black soil – Deccan plateau (cotton)
• Red soil – Southern India
• Laterite soil – High rainfall areas
4. INDIAN POLITY
4.1 CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
• Adopted on: 26 November 1949
• Enforced on: 26 January 1950
• Longest written constitution
Sources
• UK – Parliamentary system
• USA – Fundamental Rights
• Ireland – Directive Principles
4.2 PREAMBLE
• India declared as:
• Sovereign
• Socialist
• Secular
• Democratic
• Republic
4.3 FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
• Articles 12–35
• Six rights:
• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Right against Exploitation
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights
• Right to Constitutional Remedies
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4.4 DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES
• Articles 36–51
• Non‑justiciable
• Aim to establish welfare state
4.5 PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER
President
• Constitutional head
• Elected indirectly
Prime Minister
• Real executive head
• Leader of Council of Ministers
5. INDIAN ECONOMY (BASICS)
5.1 TYPES OF ECONOMY
• Capitalist economy
• Socialist economy
• Mixed economy (India)
5.2 NATIONAL INCOME
• GDP – Gross Domestic Product
• GNP – Gross National Product
• NNP – Net National Product
5.3 SECTORS OF ECONOMY
• Primary – Agriculture
• Secondary – Industry
• Tertiary – Services
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6. GENERAL SCIENCE (STATIC)
6.1 PHYSICS
• Unit of force: Newton
• Speed of light: 3 × 10⁸ m/s
• SI unit of power: Watt
6.2 CHEMISTRY
• Atomic number = Number of protons
• pH scale ranges from 0 to 14
• Acids turn blue litmus red
6.3 BIOLOGY
• Cell is the basic unit of life
• Powerhouse of cell: Mitochondria
• Human blood group system: ABO
7. ART AND CULTURE
7.1 CLASSICAL DANCES OF INDIA
• Bharatanatyam – Tamil Nadu
• Kathak – Uttar Pradesh
• Kathakali – Kerala
• Odissi – Odisha
• Manipuri – Manipur
7.2 CLASSICAL MUSIC
• Hindustani music
• Carnatic music
7.3 PAINTINGS
• Madhubani – Bihar
• Warli – Maharashtra
• Pattachitra – Odisha
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8. BOOKS AND AUTHORS
• Ramayana – Valmiki
• Mahabharata – Ved Vyasa
• Arthashastra – Kautilya
• Discovery of India – Jawaharlal Nehru
9. IMPORTANT DAYS
• 26 January – Republic Day
• 15 August – Independence Day
• 2 October – Gandhi Jayanti
• 14 November – Children’s Day
10. NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA
• National Flag – Tiranga
• National Emblem – Lion Capital
• National Animal – Tiger
• National Bird – Peacock
• National Flower – Lotus
11. WORLD STATIC GK (IMPORTANT FACTS)
• Largest continent – Asia
• Largest ocean – Pacific Ocean
• Longest river in world – Nile
• Highest mountain peak – Mount Everest
• Capital of USA – Washington DC
12. MISCELLANEOUS STATIC FACTS
• Father of Indian Constitution – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
• First President of India – Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• First Prime Minister of India – Jawaharlal Nehru
• Currency of India – Indian Rupee
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13. EXAM PREPARATION TIPS FOR STATIC GK
• Revise daily
• Make short notes
• Practice MCQs regularly
• Link static GK with current affairs
END OF STATIC GK NOTES
(Approx. 2000+ words | Ready for exam preparation)