100 Interesting Facts: Best General Knowledge Questions About India

India’s story is vast, diverse, and deeply layered. From ancient civilisations and timeless traditions to scientific breakthroughs and economic milestones, the country offers a wealth of knowledge that is as fascinating as it is important. Understanding India is not just about memorising facts—it’s about appreciating a journey shaped by innovation, resilience, culture, and heritage. This carefully compiled list of 100 Facts, general knowledge questions, presents a well-rounded view of India’s many dimensions: covering history, geography, science, sports, culture, economy, and national identity. Each question highlights a unique aspect of India’s progress and pride, offering insights relevant to learners and quiz enthusiasts.

Are you preparing for a competitive exam, building classroom content, or simply interested in expanding your awareness? These questions serve as a thoughtful resource to engage with the story of India—clearly, accurately, and with context. Explore, learn, and discover what makes India truly remarkable.

Table of Contents: 100 Facts Quiz

1. Indian Geography & Natural Landmarks
2. Indian History & Culture
3. Modern India: Science, Technology, Economy & Sports
4. Major Indian Highlights
5. Essence of India: India’s achievements

Indian Geography & Natural Landmarks

1. Q: What is the highest mountain peak in India?
   A: Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters).
2. Q: Which is the longest river in India?
   A: The Ganges (Ganga).
3. Q: Where is the wettest place in India?
   A: Mawsynram, Meghalaya.
4. Q: Which desert is located in India?
   A: Thar Desert (Rajasthan).
5. Q: What is the largest freshwater lake in India?
   A: Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir.
6. Q: Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
   A: Gujarat.
7. Q: Where is India’s only active volcano located?
   A: Barren Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
8. Q: What is the largest saltwater lake in India?
   A: Chilika Lake, Odisha.
9. Q: Which is the smallest state in India?
   A: Goa.
10. Q: Which state in India has the most forests?
    A: Madhya Pradesh.
    
    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

Indian History & Culture: 100 Facts

1. Q: Who was the first Emperor of India?
   A: Chandragupta Maurya.
2. Q: What is the oldest continuously inhabited city in India?
   A: Varanasi.
3. Q: Which Indian monument is one of the Seven Wonders of the World?
   A: The Taj Mahal.
4. Q: Who built the Qutub Minar?
   A: Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
5. Q: Which ancient university in India was one of the world’s first residential universities?
   A: Nalanda University.
6. Q: Which Mughal ruler built Fatehpur Sikri?
   A: Akbar.
7. Q: Where was Mahatma Gandhi born?
   A: Porbandar, Gujarat.
8. Q: Who was the first President of independent India?
   A: Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
9. Q: What was the capital of India before Delhi?
   A: Calcutta (now Kolkata).
10. Q: What is the national emblem of India taken from?
    A: The Lion Capital of Ashoka (Sarnath).
11. Q: What is India’s national language?
    A: India has no national language, but Hindi is the most spoken.
12. Q: Which dance form originated in Kerala?
    A: Kathakali.
13. Q: Which festival is known as the “Festival of Lights”?
    A: Diwali.
14. Q: Which is the largest Hindu temple complex in India?
    A: Akshardham Temple, Delhi.
15. Q: Which classical dance is from Tamil Nadu?
    A: Bharatanatyam.
16. Q: Which state celebrates the Hornbill Festival?
    A: Nagaland.
17. Q: Where is the world’s largest religious gathering held?
    A: Kumbh Mela, India.
18. Q: What is India’s national animal?
    A: Bengal Tiger.
19. Q: What is India’s national bird?
    A: Indian Peacock.
20. Q: What is India’s national flower?
    A: Lotus.

Modern India: Science, Technology, Economy & Sports

1. Q: Who is known as the “Missile Man of India”?
   A: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
2. Q: Which Indian mathematician invented zero?
   A: Aryabhata.
3. Q: Which Indian scientist won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930?
   A: C.V. Raman.
4. Q: What was India’s first satellite?
   A: Aryabhata.
5. Q: What is the name of India’s Mars Mission?
   A: Mangalyaan.
6. Q: Which city is known as India’s “Silicon Valley”?
   A: Bengaluru.
7. Q: Who invented the Fibonacci numbers before Fibonacci?
   A: Pingala (Ancient Indian mathematician).
8. Q: Which was India’s first nuclear test?
   A: Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha) in 1974.
9. Q: What is the full form of ISRO?
   A: Indian Space Research Organisation.
10. Q: Which Indian scientist is known for the Green Revolution?
    A: M.S. Swaminathan.
11. Q: Who was the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal?
    A: Abhinav Bindra (2008, Shooting).
12. Q: Which is the national sport of India?
    A: Hockey.
13. Q: Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize?
    A: Rabindranath Tagore (Literature, 1913).
14. Q: Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal?
    A: Karnam Malleswari (Weightlifting, 2000).
15. Q: Which Indian cricket captain won the first ICC T20 World Cup?
    A: MS Dhoni (2007).
16. Q: What is India’s largest IT hub?
    A: Bengaluru.
17. Q: Which is India’s largest employer?
    A: Indian Railways.
18. Q: Which city is known as India’s “Financial Capital”?
    A: Mumbai.
19. Q: What is India’s currency called?
    A: Indian Rupee (INR).
20. Q: Which industry is India the largest producer of?
    A: Spices.
    
    Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

Major Indian Highlights

1. Q: Which Indian company was the first to reach a $100 billion market value?
   A: Tata Group.
2. Q: What is the main stock exchange of India?
   A: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
3. Q: Which Indian city is known as the “Manchester of India”?
   A: Ahmedabad (for its textile industry).
4. Q: What is India’s rank in the world for milk production?
   A: 1st.
5. Q: Which Indian startup became the first to reach a $100 billion valuation?
   A: Flipkart.
6. Q: Which Indian city is the largest producer of diamonds?
   A: Surat, Gujarat.
7. Q: Which industry contributes most to India’s GDP?
   A: Services sector.
8. Q: Which Indian bank is the largest by assets?
   A: State Bank of India (SBI).
9. Q: Which Indian company owns Jaguar and Land Rover?
   A: Tata Motors.
10. Q: What is India’s main agricultural export?
    A: Rice.
11. Q: Which was India’s first interplanetary mission?
    A: Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission).
12. Q: What is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier?
    A: INS Vikrant.
13. Q: Which Indian developed the “Bose-Einstein Statistics”?
    A: Satyendra Nath Bose.
14. Q: What was the first cloned buffalo in India called?
    A: Samrupa.
15. Q: Which Indian scientist discovered the Raman Effect?
    A: C.V. Raman.
16. Q: What is the name of India’s first supercomputer?
    A: PARAM 8000.
17. Q: Who is known as the “Father of India’s Space Program”?
    A: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
18. Q: Which planet did India become the first country to successfully reach on its first attempt?
    A: Mars.
19. Q: What is India’s first reusable space shuttle called?
    A: RLV-TD.
20. Q: Which atomic reactor made India self-reliant in nuclear energy?
    A: Apsara.
21. Q: Which city is known as the “Pink City” of India?
    A: Jaipur.
22. Q: What is the world’s tallest statue located in India?
    A: Statue of Unity (Sardar Patel, Gujarat).
23. Q: Which is the most populous city in India?
    A: Mumbai.
24. Q: Where is the world’s highest cricket ground located?
    A: Chail, Himachal Pradesh.
25. Q: Which city is called the “City of Lakes”?
    A: Udaipur, Rajasthan.
26. Q: Where is the Sun Temple located?
    A: Konark, Odisha.
27. Q: What is the nickname of Bengaluru?
    A: The Silicon Valley of India.
28. Q: Which is the longest national highway in India?
    A: NH 44 (formerly NH 7).
29. Q: What is the only floating post office in the world?
    A: The one on Dal Lake, Srinagar.
30. Q: Which Indian monument has the most visitors annually?
    A: Taj Mahal.
    
    Source: https://www.britannica.com/facts/India

Essence of India: Culture and Heritage

1. Q: What is India’s national game?
   A: Hockey (officially, but cricket is the most popular).
2. Q: Which is the oldest form of Indian martial arts?
   A: Kalaripayattu.
3. Q: What is the highest civilian award in India?
   A: Bharat Ratna.
4. Q: Which ancient Indian text is known as the world’s first medical encyclopedia?
   A: Charaka Samhita.
5. Q: Which city is called the “Yoga Capital of the World”?
   A: Rishikesh.
6. Q: What is the national tree of India?
   A: Banyan tree.
7. Q: What is the traditional dress of men in Kerala?
   A: Mundu.
8. Q: Which Indian state has the highest literacy rate?
   A: Kerala.
9. Q: Which is the largest stadium in India?
   A: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
10. Q: Where did chess originate?
    A: India (as Chaturanga).
11. Q: How many time zones does India have?
    A: One (Indian Standard Time, IST).
12. Q: Which was the first Bollywood movie ever made?
    A: Raja Harishchandra (1913).
13. Q: Which Indian airline was started by J.R.D. Tata?
    A: Air India.
14. Q: Who was the first Indian in space?
    A: Rakesh Sharma.
15. Q: What was the first Indian city to get an underground metro?
    A: Kolkata.
16. Q: Which Indian state has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
    A: Maharashtra.
17. Q: What is the most popular street food in India?
    A: Pani Puri (Gol Gappa).
18. Q: Which state is known as the “Land of Five Rivers”?
    A: Punjab.
19. Q: What is the name of India’s national aquatic animal?
    A: Ganges River Dolphin.
20. Q: What is India’s rank in terms of population in the world?
    A: 1st (As of 2023, surpassing China).