Basic General Knowledge About India: A Quiz Guide with 100 Questions

Published On: January 10, 2025

India, a land of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, is known for its rich history and vibrant heritage. With a legacy that spans millennia, India offers a fascinating journey through its geography, politics, history, and achievements. This article presents 100 basic general knowledge questions about India, perfect for beginners, quiz enthusiasts, and learners.

Basic General Knowledge About India Quiz

1. What is the capital of India?
a) Mumbai
b) New Delhi
c) Kolkata
d) Chennai
Answer: New Delhi

2. Who is known as the “Father of the Nation” in India?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Subhas Chandra Bose
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Bhagat Singh
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

3. What is the national animal of India?
a) Lion
b) Tiger
c) Elephant
d) Peacock
Answer: Tiger

4. What is the national bird of India?
a) Peacock
b) Parrot
c) Crow
d) Sparrow
Answer: Peacock

5. Which river is known as the “Ganga of the South”?
a) Godavari
b) Krishna
c) Kaveri
d) Narmada
Answer: Godavari

6. Which city is known as the “Pink City” of India?
a) Jaipur
b) Jodhpur
c) Udaipur
d) Ahmedabad
Answer: Jaipur

7. Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
d) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru

8. What is the national currency of India?
a) Dollar
b) Rupee
c) Pound
d) Yen
Answer: Rupee

9. Which Indian city is famous for its IT industry?
a) Bengaluru
b) Hyderabad
c) Pune
d) Chennai
Answer: Bengaluru

10. Who wrote the national anthem of India?
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
c) Sarojini Naidu
d) Subramania Bharati
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore

11. What is the national flower of India?
a) Lotus
b) Rose
c) Jasmine
d) Sunflower
Answer: Lotus

12. Which state is the largest in India by area?
a) Rajasthan
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Maharashtra
d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: Rajasthan

13. Which is the smallest state in India by area?
a) Goa
b) Sikkim
c) Tripura
d) Meghalaya
Answer: Goa

14. Which is the longest river in India?
a) Ganga
b) Godavari
c) Brahmaputra
d) Krishna
Answer: Ganga

15. Which Indian festival is known as the “Festival of Lights”?
a) Holi
b) Diwali
c) Eid
d) Christmas
Answer: Diwali

16. Who was the first President of India?
a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
c) Indira Gandhi
d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad

17. What is the national tree of India?
a) Banyan Tree
b) Mango Tree
c) Neem Tree
d) Peepal Tree
Answer: Banyan Tree

18. Which Indian monument is called the “Symbol of Love”?
a) Taj Mahal
b) Qutub Minar
c) India Gate
d) Charminar
Answer: Taj Mahal

19. Which state is known as the “Land of Five Rivers”?
a) Punjab
b) Haryana
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Gujarat
Answer: Punjab

20. Which is the oldest mountain range in India?
a) Aravalli Range
b) Himalayas
c) Western Ghats
d) Satpura Range
Answer: Aravalli Range

21. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Joy”?
a) Kolkata
b) Mumbai
c) Chennai
d) Hyderabad
Answer: Kolkata

22. Which Indian sportsperson is known as the “God of Cricket”?
a) Virat Kohli
b) Kapil Dev
c) Sachin Tendulkar
d) MS Dhoni
Answer: Sachin Tendulkar

23. Which is the highest civilian award in India?
a) Bharat Ratna
b) Padma Shri
c) Padma Bhushan
d) Dronacharya Award
Answer: Bharat Ratna

24. Which is the national game of India?
a) Cricket
b) Hockey
c) Football
d) Kabaddi
Answer: Hockey

25. Which Indian state is known for its backwaters?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Karnataka
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala

26. Which Indian state is known as the “Spice Garden of India”?
a) Kerala
b) Karnataka
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala

27. What is the national emblem of India?
a) Ashoka Chakra
b) Lion Capital of Ashoka
c) Peacock
d) Lotus
Answer: Lion Capital of Ashoka

28. Which Indian city is known as the “Silicon Valley of India”?
a) Bengaluru
b) Hyderabad
c) Pune
d) Chennai
Answer: Bengaluru

29. Who is known as the “Missile Man of India”?
a) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
b) Homi Bhabha
c) Vikram Sarabhai
d) Rakesh Sharma
Answer: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

30. Which is the largest desert in India?
a) Thar Desert
b) Kutch Desert
c) Ladakh Desert
d) Rann of Kutch
Answer: Thar Desert

31. Which Indian festival is also known as the “Festival of Colors”?
a) Holi
b) Diwali
c) Onam
d) Pongal
Answer: Holi

32. Which Indian state is known as the “Land of Rising Sun”?
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Assam
c) Manipur
d) Nagaland
Answer: Arunachal Pradesh

33. Which Indian city is famous for its diamond industry?
a) Surat
b) Jaipur
c) Mumbai
d) Chennai
Answer: Surat

34. Which Indian state is known as the “Land of Spices”?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Karnataka
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala

35. Which is the oldest language in India?
a) Sanskrit
b) Tamil
c) Hindi
d) Telugu
Answer: Tamil

36. Which is the highest mountain peak in India?
a) Kanchenjunga
b) Nanda Devi
c) Mount Everest
d) Kamet
Answer: Kanchenjunga

37. Which Indian state is called the “Land of Festivals”?
a) Nagaland
b) West Bengal
c) Rajasthan
d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: Nagaland

38. Which city is the financial capital of India?
a) Mumbai
b) New Delhi
c) Bengaluru
d) Hyderabad
Answer: Mumbai

39. Which state in India is known for its Kathakali dance?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Karnataka
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Kerala

40. What is the national aquatic animal of India?
a) River Dolphin
b) Sea Turtle
c) Dugong
d) Blue Whale
Answer: River Dolphin

41. Which city is known as the “Golden City” of India?
a) Jaisalmer
b) Jaipur
c) Amritsar
d) Varanasi
Answer: Jaisalmer

42. Which Indian state is the largest producer of tea?
a) Assam
b) West Bengal
c) Kerala
d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: Assam

43. Which Indian scientist is credited with the invention of the Raman Effect?
a) C.V. Raman
b) Homi Bhabha
c) S.N. Bose
d) Jagadish Chandra Bose
Answer: C.V. Raman

44. Which Indian state is famous for its toy industry in Channapatna?
a) Karnataka
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Kerala
Answer: Karnataka

45. Which Indian state is called the “Land of Snow”?
a) Himachal Pradesh
b) Jammu & Kashmir
c) Uttarakhand
d) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: Himachal Pradesh

46. Which Indian city is known for its leather industry?
a) Kanpur
b) Chennai
c) Kolkata
d) Agra
Answer: Kanpur

47. Which Indian state is the largest producer of rice?
a) West Bengal
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Punjab
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: West Bengal

48. Which Indian river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
a) Kosi
b) Ganga
c) Son
d) Gandak
Answer: Kosi

49. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Nawabs”?
a) Lucknow
b) Hyderabad
c) Patna
d) Kolkata
Answer: Lucknow

50. Which Indian scientist is known as the “Father of the Green Revolution”?
a) M.S. Swaminathan
b) Norman Borlaug
c) Verghese Kurien
d) Vikram Sarabhai
Answer: M.S. Swaminathan

51. Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
a) Wular Lake
b) Chilika Lake
c) Dal Lake
d) Loktak Lake
Answer: Wular Lake

52. Which Indian monument is known as the “Iron Lady of India”?
a) Statue of Unity
b) Indira Gandhi Memorial
c) India Gate
d) Rani Laxmi Bai Statue
Answer: Statue of Unity

53. Which Indian festival is dedicated to the Sun God?
a) Chhath Puja
b) Makar Sankranti
c) Pongal
d) All of the above
Answer: All of the above

54. Which Indian state is known for the Gir National Park?
a) Gujarat
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Rajasthan
d) Maharashtra
Answer: Gujarat

55. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Pearls”?
a) Hyderabad
b) Mumbai
c) Jaipur
d) Chennai
Answer: Hyderabad

56. Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
a) Indira Gandhi
b) Sarojini Naidu
c) Pratibha Patil
d) Sucheta Kripalani
Answer: Indira Gandhi

57. Which is the southernmost point of India?
a) Indira Point
b) Kanyakumari
c) Rameswaram
d) Kovalam
Answer: Indira Point

58. Which is the largest union territory of India by area?
a) Ladakh
b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
c) Chandigarh
d) Delhi
Answer: Ladakh

59. Which is the national vegetable of India?
a) Pumpkin
b) Brinjal
c) Potato
d) Ladyfinger
Answer: Pumpkin

60. Which Indian state is the largest producer of coffee?
a) Karnataka
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kerala
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Karnataka

61. Which is the only floating lake in India?
a) Loktak Lake
b) Dal Lake
c) Wular Lake
d) Chilika Lake
Answer: Loktak Lake

62. Which Indian city is famous for its golden temple, Harmandir Sahib?
a) Amritsar
b) Patiala
c) Ludhiana
d) Chandigarh
Answer: Amritsar

63. Which is the oldest university in India?
a) Nalanda University
b) Takshashila University
c) Banaras Hindu University
d) Calcutta University
Answer: Nalanda University

64. Which Indian state is known as the “Land of Orchids”?
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Meghalaya
c) Assam
d) Nagaland
Answer: Arunachal Pradesh

65. Which is the national reptile of India?
a) King Cobra
b) Python
c) Monitor Lizard
d) Crocodile
Answer: King Cobra

66. Which Indian state is famous for the Sun Temple at Konark?
a) Odisha
b) West Bengal
c) Bihar
d) Jharkhand
Answer: Odisha

67. Which Indian city is known for its blue pottery?
a) Jaipur
b) Jodhpur
c) Udaipur
d) Bikaner
Answer: Jaipur

68. Which is the largest coal-producing state in India?
a) Jharkhand
b) Chhattisgarh
c) Odisha
d) West Bengal
Answer: Jharkhand

69. Who was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize?
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) C.V. Raman
c) Mother Teresa
d) Amartya Sen
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore

70. Which Indian state is known as the “Land of Seven Sisters”?
a) Assam
b) Arunachal Pradesh
c) Northeast India (Collective States)
d) Nagaland
Answer: Northeast India (Collective States)

71. Which Indian city is called the “Steel City of India”?
a) Jamshedpur
b) Bhilai
c) Bokaro
d) Rourkela
Answer: Jamshedpur

72. Which river flows through the marble rocks at Bhedaghat?
a) Narmada
b) Tapi
c) Godavari
d) Krishna
Answer: Narmada

73. Which is the largest saltwater lake in India?
a) Chilika Lake
b) Wular Lake
c) Sambhar Lake
d) Loktak Lake
Answer: Chilika Lake

74. Which Indian state has the maximum number of wildlife sanctuaries?
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Karnataka
c) Maharashtra
d) Rajasthan
Answer: Madhya Pradesh

75. Which Indian freedom fighter is known as the “Iron Man of India”?
a) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
b) Subhas Chandra Bose
c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
d) Bhagat Singh
Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

76. Which is the only river in India that flows from west to east?
a) Mahanadi
b) Chambal
c) Son
d) None of the above
Answer: None of the above

77. Which Indian state is the largest producer of wheat?
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Punjab
c) Haryana
d) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: Uttar Pradesh

78. Which Indian classical dance originated in Tamil Nadu?
a) Bharatanatyam
b) Kathakali
c) Kuchipudi
d) Mohiniyattam
Answer: Bharatanatyam

79. Which is the longest highway in India?
a) NH 44
b) NH 48
c) NH 19
d) NH 16
Answer: NH 44

80. Which Indian monument was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary?
a) Gateway of India
b) India Gate
c) Rashtrapati Bhavan
d) Red Fort
Answer: Gateway of India

81. Which is the highest dam in India?
a) Tehri Dam
b) Bhakra Nangal Dam
c) Sardar Sarovar Dam
d) Hirakud Dam
Answer: Tehri Dam

82. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Palaces”?
a) Kolkata
b) Jaipur
c) Mysuru
d) Lucknow
Answer: Mysuru

83. Which state in India is known as the “Soya State”?
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Maharashtra
c) Rajasthan
d) Gujarat
Answer: Madhya Pradesh

84. Which is the first state in India formed on a linguistic basis?
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Karnataka
d) Kerala
Answer: Andhra Pradesh

85. Which Indian river is called the “Sorrow of Bengal”?
a) Damodar
b) Hooghly
c) Teesta
d) Ganga
Answer: Damodar

86. Which Indian city is known as the “Manchester of India”?
a) Ahmedabad
b) Surat
c) Mumbai
d) Kanpur
Answer: Ahmedabad

87. Which Indian scientist developed the concept of zero?
a) Aryabhata
b) Brahmagupta
c) Bhaskara I
d) Varahamihira
Answer: Aryabhata

88. Which is the first biosphere reserve in India?
a) Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
b) Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve
c) Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
d) Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
Answer: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

89. Which Indian state has the highest literacy rate?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Goa
Answer: Kerala

90. Which Indian state is known for the Khajuraho Temples?
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Rajasthan
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Gujarat
Answer: Madhya Pradesh

91. Which Indian mountain range is the youngest fold mountain range in the world?
a) Himalayas
b) Aravallis
c) Satpura
d) Vindhya
Answer: Himalayas

92. Which Indian state is the largest producer of spices?
a) Kerala
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: Kerala

93. Which Indian city is known as the “City of Lakes”?
a) Udaipur
b) Nainital
c) Bhopal
d) Srinagar
Answer: Udaipur

94. Which Indian festival is known as the “Festival of Harvest”?
a) Pongal
b) Makar Sankranti
c) Baisakhi
d) All of the above
Answer: All of the above

95. Which Indian space mission made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars?
a) Mangalyaan
b) Chandrayaan
c) Gaganyaan
d) PSLV-C37
Answer: Mangalyaan

96. Which Indian wildlife sanctuary is famous for its one-horned rhinoceros?
a) Kaziranga National Park
b) Gir National Park
c) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
d) Sundarbans National Park
Answer: Kaziranga National Park

97. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
a) Gujarat
b) Maharashtra
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Gujarat

98. Which Indian festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha?
a) Ganesh Chaturthi
b) Holi
c) Dussehra
d) Diwali
Answer: Ganesh Chaturthi

99. Which Indian state is known as the “Land of High Passes”?
a) Ladakh
b) Himachal Pradesh
c) Arunachal Pradesh
d) Uttarakhand
Answer: Ladakh

100. Which Indian city is known as the “Temple City of India”?
a) Bhubaneswar
b) Varanasi
c) Madurai
d) Puri
Answer: Bhubaneswar