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('awareness', 'General Awareness') 3% exam weight

Topic 10

Part of the IBPS PO study roadmap. ('awareness', 'General Awareness') topic genera-010 of ('awareness', 'General Awareness').

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Static GK — Important Facts About India & the World

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Static GK in IBPS PO covers a wide range of factual topics — Indian constitution, history, geography, science, and international organisations. The key is to memorize standard facts and figures.

Quick high-yield facts:

  • India: 28 states, 8 Union Territories; capital: New Delhi
  • National animal: Tiger; Bird: Peacock; Flower: Lotus; Fruit: Mango; Tree: Banyan
  • UN founded: 24 October 1945; headquarters: New York; original members: 51
  • Indian Constitution: 395 articles, 22 parts, 12 schedules; adopted 26 November 1949
  • First Governor-General of India: Lord Mountbatten (1947); first CJI: H.J. Kania

⚡ Exam tip: Static GK questions are often straightforward fact-based. Focus on the latest census data, UNESCO sites, Ramsar wetlands, and major national parks. Also note newly created states and UTs.

🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Indian Constitution — Key Facts:

Preamble

“We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC… secure to all its citizens: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”

Key amendments to preamble: 42nd Amendment (1976) added “Socialist” and “Secular”; 86th Amendment added “Integrity.”

Parts of the Constitution

  • Part I: States and Territory of India
  • Part II: Citizenship
  • Part III: Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35)
  • Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36-51)
  • Part IVA: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)
  • Part V: Union (President, Vice-President, Council of Ministers, Parliament)
  • Part VI: States (Governors, Chief Minister, State Legislature, High Courts)
  • Part VII: [Repealed — related to Part B states]
  • Part VIII: Union Territories
  • Part IX: Panchayats and Municipalities
  • Part IXA: Co-operative Societies
  • Part X: Schedules and Territories
  • Part XI: Relations between Union and States
  • Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits
  • Part XIII: Trade and Commerce
  • Part XIV: Services under Union and States
  • Part XIVA: Tribunals
  • Part XV: Elections
  • Part XVI: Special provisions for SC/ST and Anglo-Indian representatives
  • Part XVII: Official Language
  • Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions
  • Part XIX: Miscellaneous (Articles 361-367)
  • Part XX: Amendment of the Constitution
  • Part XXI: Temporary and Transitional provisions
  • Part XXII: Short title, commencement, and author

Schedules (12 in total)

  1. Lists of states and union territories
  2. Assam’s tribal areas
  3. Provisions related to the Governor
  4. Provisions related to the scheduled areas
  5. Provisions related to the scheduled areas (different from Schedule 2)
  6. Provisions related to tribal areas (6th schedule states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram)
  7. Division of powers (Union List — 100 subjects, State List — 61 subjects, Concurrent List — 52 subjects)
  8. Forms of oaths
  9. Public acts and notifications
  10. Provisions related to the scheduled areas
  11. Panchayats (73rd Amendment)
  12. Municipalities (74th Amendment)

Emergency Provisions (Part XVIII)

  • National Emergency (Article 352): President’s rule on grounds of war, external aggression, armed rebellion; must be approved by Parliament within 1 month; 3 times invoked: 1962 (China war), 1971 (Bangladesh war), 1975-1977 (internal emergency by Indira Gandhi)
  • President’s Rule (Article 356): When state cannot function according to Constitution; approved for maximum 2 years (with 6-month extensions)
  • Financial Emergency (Article 360): Rarely invoked; affects distribution of finances

Fundamental Rights (Part III):

  1. Right to Equality (Articles 14-18): Equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, equality of opportunity in public employment, abolition of titles
  2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22): 6 freedoms (speech, assembly, association, movement, residence, profession); preventive detention; protection of life and personal liberty; protection against arrest
  3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24): Prohibition of traffic in human beings, prohibition of child labour under 14 years
  4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28): Freedom of conscience, freedom to manage religious affairs, freedom from payment of taxes for religious purposes, freedom from religious instruction in certain institutions
  5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30): Protection of interests of minorities, right of minorities to establish educational institutions
  6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32): Right to move Supreme Court for enforcement of FR; Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called this “heart and soul” of the Constitution

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV):

  • Article 38: State to secure social order
  • Article 39: Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State (least discussed: equal means of production)
  • Article 40: Organization of village panchayats
  • Article 43: Living wage for workers
  • Article 44: Uniform civil code (not yet implemented)
  • Article 48: Prohibition of cow slaughter
  • Article 48A: Protection of environment (added by 42nd Amendment)

🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Major International Organisations & India in Global Affairs:

United Nations

  • Founded 24 October 1945 (UN Day); 51 founding members
  • Headquarters: New York, USA; official languages: 6 (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)
  • Principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council (inactive), International Court of Justice (The Hague), Secretariat
  • Security Council: 15 members — 5 permanent (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) with veto power; 10 rotating non-permanent members (2-year terms, 5 elected each year)
  • General Assembly: All 193 member states; each has 1 vote; resolutions are non-binding
  • UN Peacekeeping: Operates under Chapter VI and VII of the UN Charter

India and the UN:

  • Founder member (1945); founding member of Security Council
  • India has served as a non-permanent member of SC 8 times (most recently 2021-22)
  • India contributes significantly to UN peacekeeping forces
  • India is a member of G77 (Group of 77) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

World Trade Organization (WTO)

  • Established 1 January 1995 (replaced GATT 1947)
  • 164 members (including India)
  • Functions: Administer trade agreements, settle disputes, review trade policies
  • Ministerial Conferences: Cancun (2003), Hong Kong (2005), Bali (2013 — first agreement), Nairobi (2015), Buenos Aires (2017), Geneva (2022), Abu Dhabi (2024)
  • Doha Round: Launched 2001; still incomplete; focuses on agriculture, services, non-agricultural market access
  • India at WTO: Major issues include agricultural subsidies (amber box for India), patent protection for medicines, food security

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

  • Founded 1944; 190 members
  • Quota-based voting power; US has largest quota (17.4%), India ~2.7%
  • Provides financial assistance to member countries facing balance of payments problems
  • SDR (Special Drawing Rights): Reserve asset created by IMF; allocated to members based on quota
  • World Bank: Founded 1944; IBRD + IDA; provides loans to developing countries
  • India’s credit rating: BBB- (S&P), Baa3 (Moody’s), BBB- (Fitch)

World Health Organization (WHO)

  • Founded 7 April 1948; headquarters: Geneva
  • Key Conventions: International Health Regulations (IHR) — revised 2005
  • COVAX: WHO-led initiative for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
  • India and WHO: India has been elected to the WHO Executive Board; S.A. Dutt served as DG (1951-1958)

India and Key Groupings

BRICS (now BRICS+):

  • 2024 expansion: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE joined
  • New Development Bank (NDB, headquartered Shanghai) — provides development finance
  • India opposes expansion of UN Security Council (permanent seat issue)
  • Currency: Discussions on using local currencies for trade

G20:

  • Group of 20 major economies; accounts for ~80% of world GDP
  • India held 2023 presidency; theme: “One Earth, One Family, One Future”; summit in New Delhi
  • 2024 presidency: Brazil; 2025: South Africa

SAARC:

  • South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (8 members: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan)
  • Frozen since 2015 ( Uri attack, Pulwama); India does not attend SAARC summits

BIMSTEC:

  • Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
  • 7 members: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
  • India’s Act East policy links to BIMSTEC

IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association):

  • 23 members; Indian Ocean cooperation; headquarters: Mauritius

India’s Neighbours & Borders

  • Land borders: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh
  • Maritime neighbours: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia
  • Land Boundary Agreement: India-Bangladesh 1974 agreement (enacted 2015 — exchange of 111 enclaves)
  • Line of Control (LoC): With Pakistan-administered Kashmir (from 1949 Karachi Agreement)
  • Line of Actual Control (LAC): With China (de facto border; multiple standoffs — 2020 Galwan clash in Ladakh)
  • International Border (IB): With Pakistan (Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat)
  • Indo-Pak Border: Wagah/Attari gate; crossing point near Amritsar

Key Borders & Treaties:

  • McMahon Line: Boundary between India and China (1914 Simla Accord); China does not recognise it
  • Sir Creek: Maritime boundary dispute between India and Pakistan in Rann of Kutch
  • Indus Water Treaty (1960): India can use only 20% of Indus waters; World Bank is guarantor; Saqalwat (Pakistan’s right)

Important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (2024)

  • Cultural sites: Taj Mahal (Agra), Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort (Delhi), Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Sanchi Stupa, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Sun Temple Konark, Charminar, Hampi Monuments, Mahabalipuram, Brihadeeswara Temple (Tanjore), Jaipur City,庙 (Brahma Temple — missing), Kaziranga, Keoladeo National Park, Khangchendzonga
  • Natural sites: Kaziranga, Keoladeo, Manas, Nanda Devi (protected area), Sundarbans, Western Ghats, Khangchendzonga National Park
  • Mixed sites: None in India currently

Indian intangible heritage: Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Yoga (recognised by UNESCO 2016 as Intangible Cultural Heritage)

Ramsar Wetlands in India

India has 80+ Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance). Key sites:

  • Chilika Lake (Odisha), Dal Lake (J&K), Harike (Punjab), Keoladeo (Rajasthan), Loktak (Manipur), Sambhar (Rajasthan), Sasangir (Gujarat), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Vembannur (Tamil Nadu)

National Parks: 106; Tiger reserves: 54; Elephant reserves: 20

Biodiversity hotspots in India: Western Ghats (Sahul), Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Sundarbans

Wildlife species: Bengal Tiger (Project Tiger — 1973; 54 reserves), Asiatic Lion (Gir, Gujarat), One-horned Rhinoceros (Kaziranga, Pobitora), Snow Leopard (Hemis NP, Ladakh), Great Indian Bustard (Rann of Kutch)